Parks & Recreation Magazine - October 2015

Tra n s g e n d e r E q u i t y | Po p e fo r Pa r k s | 2 0 1 5 Co n fe r e n ce R e c a p OCTOBER 2015 W W W. N R PA . O R G

Welcome to Chicagoland The Chicago Park District continues to cultivate a world-class park system in the American Midwest Page 40

THE SOCIAL EQUITY ISSUE

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contents october 2015 volume 50 | number 10 | www.nrpa.org

Guests enjoy Shakespeare in the Park as part of Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, which features world-class entertainment set in public parks.

COVER STORY

2015 NRPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE SECTION

40 Welcome to Chicagoland

50 2015 NRPA Annual Conference: Inspirational and Invigorating

Chicago Park District, in fruitful collaboration with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and community support groups, endeavors to cultivate a world-class park system in the American Midwest Jessica Maxey-Faulkner and Michele Lemons

FEATURE

46 Social Equity in Parks for the Transgender Community Linda Oakleaf

51 Preparing for Action 52 Education Sessions: Where Theory

Meets Practice 53 Exhibit Hall Creativity on Display 54 Big Winners in Las Vegas 56 Viva, Joe Kneip Park

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contents october 2015

departments

columns

10 Letters

6 Perspectives

12 50th Anniversary Archive Throwback: January 2002

14 Community Center Embracing a Multicultural Community of Recently Immigrated Older Adults 14 Notable News 16 NRPA Connect Hot Topics 17

18 By the Numbers Parks and the Economy

20 People for Parks Is the Pope for Parks?

Richard J. Dolesh

22 Member to Member Walk It Out! Urban Walking Trails for Seniors in Harlem Amparo Abel-Bey, MPH, Monique Hedmann, MPH, and Anna Tan, BSPH

58 NRPA Update Summer Feeding Programs and the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill 58 Show Us the Money 60

Seeing the Big Picture Detrick L. Stanford, CPRP

8 Editor’s Letter Doing the Right Thing Gina Mullins-Cohen

24 Advocacy Safe Routes to School National Partnership: Working to Make Underserved Communities Safer for Walking and Biking Sara Zimmerman

26 Law Review Women Busted for Bare Breasts in Public, Not Men James C. Kozlowski, J.D., Ph.D.

32 Future Leaders How Young Professionals Engage Underserved Communities

34 Conservation Ten Million Kids Outdoors and Counting Richard J. Dolesh

36 Health and Wellness Parks and Recreation Help Step It Up! Samantha Bartram

Member Benefits: What Is Your Agency’s ADA IQ? 61 Test Your Park and Recreation Knowledge 61 Member Spotlight: Bernard Buchanan 62 Professional Development Calendar 63

64 Operations Helpful Hints for Creating Great Park Signage

66 Products 68 Marketplace 71 Reader Service and Advertiser Index 72 Park Bench A Garden Oasis on Chicago’s South Side Catrina Belt

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Page 36

P E R S P E C T I V E S A M E S S A G E F R O M N R PA’ S L E A D E R S

Seeing the Big Picture I can think of no better way to culminate the distinct honor of serving as Chair of NRPA’s Board of Directors for the past year than by witnessing one of our most inspirational Annual Conferences held last month in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event calcified what I already knew about this profession: it encompasses a group of individuals who possess unwavering passion, commitment and selflessness to the greater good of others and the communities they serve.

During my remarks at the Opening General Session, I talked about how we, as park and recreation professionals in the 21st century, can better communicate our impact. It is important for us to share how our Park Champions initiative is encouraging people across the country to reach out to their representatives on Capitol Hill and invite them to come and see for themselves the tremendous impact a robust park and recreation system has on the community it serves. It is incumbent upon us to emphasize NRPA’s recently completed national economic impact study that unequivocally shows how our nation’s local and regional parks create almost $140 billion in economic activity every year and support almost 1 million jobs across the country.

These are all incredibly important facts and strategies, and we spent the better part of three days in Las Vegas discussing, lauding and honing them to what we hope will result in the greatest effect. But, for me, NRPA’s impact, along with that of the professionals we serve, was communicated most clearly during the dedication and unveiling of the 2015 Parks Build Community project at Joe Kneip Park. To witness the transformation of this space — a space that has never stopped serving its community, but was, for many years, required to do so with crumbling equipment and neglected grounds — was to know, beyond any set of numbers or legislative initiative, that our work truly matters and makes a dramatic difference in the trajectory of peoples’ lives. Quality parks and recreational opportunities save lives on a daily basis. We all knew this going into our profession, but it’s events like the success at Joe Kneip Park that drive the passion behind what we do every day.

As I step down and welcome the highly motivated and innovative Susan Trautman as our new NRPA Board Chair, I will take memories like those made at Joe Kneip Park with me.

Those and countless similar moments I’ve experienced throughout my career in parks and recreation will continue to drive my commitment to and compassion for the field. Again, I sincerely thank you for the opportunity to serve, and I look forward to continuing my service to NRPA as we join together in support for greater health and wellness, increased environmental conservation and widespread social equity for all.

D E T R I CK L . S TAN FO R D, CPR P Chair of the Board of Directors

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2377 Belmont Ridge Rd. | Ashburn, VA 20148 2 703.858.0784 | www.nrpa.org

NRPA’S MISSION: To advance parks, recreation and environmental conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all people.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Jack Kardys

Chair of the Board of Directors Susan Trautman, CPRP

Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department Miami, Florida

Great Rivers Greenway District St. Louis, Missouri

Michael Kelly

Chair-Elect Stephen Eckelberry

Chicago Park District Chicago, Illinois

Bartlett Park District Bartlett, Illinois

Brian Knapp

Past Chair Detrick L. Stanford, CPRP Clayton County Parks and Recreation Jonesboro, Georgia

Treasurer Neelay Bhatt PROS Consulting Indianapolis, Indiana

Secretary Roslyn Johnson Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Greenbelt, Maryland

President and CEO Barbara Tulipane, CAE National Recreation and Park Association Ashburn, Virginia

ANNOUNCING OUR NEW PHOTO CONTEST!

NOVA Parks Fairfax, Virginia

Detrick L. Stanford, CPRP

Always ahead in science and value.

Clayton County Parks and Recreation Jonesboro, Georgia

Molly Stevens Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center Austin, Texas

William “Joe” Turner

Photo Contest Ends on November 22nd

Houston Parks and Recreation Houston, Texas

LIFE TRUSTEES Beverly D. Chrisman Lexington, South Carolina

Anne S. Close Fort Mill, South Carolina

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

James H. Evans

Leon T. Andrews

New York, New York

National League of Cities Washington, D.C.

Rosemary Hall Evans Sugar Hill, New Hampshire

Rebecca Benná, CPRP Five River Metro Parks Dayton, Ohio

Earl T. Groves

Neelay Bhatt

Charles E. Hartsoe, Ph.D.

Gastonia, North Carolina

PROS Consulting Indianapolis, Indiana

Richmond, Virginia

Kevin Coyle

Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

National Wildlife Federation Washington, D.C.

Jennifer Harnish Streams and Valleys Fort Worth, Texas

Roslyn Johnson Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Greenbelt, Maryland

Harry G. Haskell Kathryn A. Porter Mendham, New Jersey

Perry J. Segura New Iberia, Louisiana

R. Dean Tice Round Hill, Virginia

Eugene A. Young, CPRP Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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EDITOR’S LET TER

Doing the Right Thing No sooner did we finish the September 2015 issue than a story broke in the Los Angeles Times, announcing the involvement of renowned architect, Frank Gehry, as designer of a new linear park embracing a long stretch of the Los Angeles River. My first reaction, as an expat Angeleno, was — WOW! This is going to be one of the largest and most beautiful parks in the country. The change was needed and a long time coming, but as an advocate for park equity, I was also concerned.

The L.A. River travels 51 miles through the Los Angeles Basin touching numerous inland towns and communities of the San Fernando Valley all the way to the City of Long Beach on the Southern California Coast. Much of the river skirts the backyards of Latino communities woven into the shadows of dense warehouse districts. The L.A. River revitalization project promises “good” for everyone, but with newly built condos touting river views and live/work lofts popping up, gentrification begs at the heels of this Tomorrowland.

Los Angeles city officials speak regularly on the topic, citing plans that are sure to benefit those currently residing along the river. Gehry also has an optimistic view. He cares for the well-being of society and believes his skills are best used when making the world a better place — for everyone.

This month’s cover story, “Welcome to Chicagoland,” by Jessica Maxey-Faulkner and Michele Lemons, starting on page 40, shows first-hand how Chicago Park District Superintendent Michael P. Kelly worked with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to confront and solve similar issues of concern as those in Los Angeles, in their successful efforts to brand Chicago as a city with a world-class park system. As you read through the story, the basic notion of “making it work” comes to mind, whether it is through creative thinking on how to build a park in a dense neighborhood or establishing neighborhood sports programs to provide a safe haven for kids.

Also in this issue, author Linda Oakleaf discusses transgender inclusivity at our parks and recreation centers. Beginning on page 46, Oakleaf details how our agencies, programming and facilities can become safer places for individuals of all gender expressions. As this issue continues to gain attention in our culture at large, parks and recreation professionals must be at the forefront of providing positive examples of support and service to this historically marginalized community.

As we continue to examine the Social Equity Pillar and what it means to NRPA and the field of parks and recreation as a whole, both features included herein offer a lens through which the topic can be better viewed. We welcome your thoughts and real-life experiences related to Social Equity — leave a comment at www.parksandrecreation.org and let us know how your agency is working to make parks and recreation accessible to all.

GINA MULLINS-COHEN Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Publishing Editorial Director 8

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PRESIDENT AND CEO Barbara Tulipane, CAE VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLISHING, AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Gina Mullins-Cohen gcohen@nrpa.org EXECUTIVE EDITOR Samantha Bartram sbartram@nrpa.org MANAGING EDITOR Sonia Myrick smyrick@nrpa.org EDITORIAL INTERNS Marissa Bracamonte mbracamonte@nrpa.org Catrina Belt cbelt@nrpa.org PUBLICATION DESIGN Creative By Design www.creativebydesign.net SENIOR MANAGER OF ADVERTISING Dana Storm 703.858.2174 dstorm@nrpa.org MAGAZINE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS Nihal Advani CEO/Founder Georama Gerald Brown Director City of Sunset Hills Parks & Recreation Dept.

Ernest Burkeen Director Baltimore City Dept. of Recreation & Parks Gwendolyn Chambers Chief Communications Officer Baltimore City Dept. of Recreation & Parks Brendan Daley Director of Strategy and Sustainability Chicago Park District Ryan Eaker Nature-Based Programs Coordinator Lorraine “Grandma” Camacho Activity Center Robert García Founding Director and Counsel The City Project Kathleen Gibi Public Affairs Specialist City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation Paul Gilbert Executive Director Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority Sandra Gonzalez Director Pico Rivera Parks and Recreation Dept.

Greg Harrison Chief Marketing Officer Playworld Todd Lehman CEO/Founder Cre8Play Sam Mendelsohn CEO Greenfields Outdoor Fitness Dr. Kevin Riley Professor of Parks and Recreation Henderson State University Paula Sliefert Sr. Marketing Manager The Toro Company Anne-Marie Spencer Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Communications Playcore Stephen Springs Sr. Principal Brinkley, Sargent, Wiginton Architects Randy Wiger Parks Commons Program Coordinator Seattle Dept. of Parks & Recreation

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Letters We hope the articles you read in Parks & Recreation are thought-provoking and engaging, and we want to hear your opinions on what you read in these pages. Through social media posts, website comments, emails to staff or posts on NRPA Connect, let us know how the magazine’s articles apply to your job and your agency. To submit feedback for this section, email Executive Editor Samantha Bartram at sbartram@nrpa.org.

In the May 2015 issue [of Parks & Recreation magazine] there was a call to action from [NRPA CEO] Barbara Tulipane in the Perspectives column about what a well-rounded 21st century professional in our field needs to be successful (www.parksandrecreation.org/2015/ May/What-the-Park-and-RecreationProfessional-of-the-Future-Needs-toKnow). She highlighted the need to have full-range marketing skills, including social media, mobile marketing and more. Those departments that are lucky enough to have a dedicated marketing professional on staff are al-

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& Recreation

ready armed with these tools through the knowledge of their employee.

However, for most departments, marketing lies on the shoulders of programmers to market their programs to the public. They aren’t trained professionals, they are just trying to do and learn enough to make sure that they can stay up-to-date. They have enough on their plate with programs and to ask them to learn robust marketing methods and best practices can seem overwhelming.

In this very digitally driven time we

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are living in, it is important as professionals that we understand the new marketing landscape that has unfolded in front of us as technology continues to advance. The benefit is that we no longer have to make surveys, print them out and hope we get some feedback. If we open the backdoor on many of our websites, social media platforms and digital newsletters there is this beautiful, in-depth, rich data that tells us who is going to our sites, what else they looked at while they were there, how many people visited, what are the best times of day to post materials, etc. The best part is that digital marketing can be achieved for little to no expense, yet will have a huge return of the time invested.

That works great for the shoestring marketing budget on which most of us are operating.

As NRPA recognizes the critical need for these skills, I would like to call upon them to help those who are assigned to the task of marketing their programs/ department and provide the education and tools needed to make us all successful. This digital

landscape is not something that can be learned overnight and is constantly evolving; therefore, it is beneficial to consider starting a marketing school, similar to Directors School, Revenue Management School or Supervisors School, where NRPA can bring in the experts to train park and rec professionals on the many areas of digital marketing. I truly believe the interest is there and will be well received.

I would like to also ask that there be some consideration for a marketing and events certification similar to a CPRP, AFO, etc. With the many event planners and marketing professionals entering into or being developed within the parks and recreation industry, this is a great way

It is important as professionals that we understand the new marketing landscape. to invest in their talents, enhance their contributions to the industry and make them feel like valued players in the field. This dedication and investment to these professionals will likely foster loyalty and longevity among these employees, which is exactly what we will need in this ever-changing marketing world.

I think there is so much opportuni-

ty to capitalize on now that the industry has recognized how critical marketing, both traditional and digital, is not only to a 21st century professional, but our industry as a whole. By teaching and providing opportunities for professionals to learn these tools, it will take our industry to heights we never knew were possible.

Email from Tiffany Capehart, Supervisor of Marketing at the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities, regarding NRPA CEO Barbara Tulipane’s May 2015 Perspectives column, “What the Park and Recreation Professional of the Future Needs to Know,” (www.parksandrecreation.org/2015/May/Whatthe-Park-and-Recreation-Professional-ofthe-Future-Needs-to-Know)

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Archive Throwback: January 2002

By Samantha Bartram

T

he parallels between Parks & Recreation magazine’s January 2002 and October 2015 issues are striking. Both include focused pieces on Chicago, childhood hunger and urban gardening. Both also make mention of the Windy City’s mayor of the era — the famous Richard Daley, in his address to the Great Parks, Great Cities Conference of 2001, and the equally well-known Rahm Emanuel in 2015, with his Chicago Plays! program. The details of all these subjects have certainly changed, but the essential cores of the stories remain largely the same. Chicago remains a storied city with incredible parks, the United States still struggles to adequately address childhood hunger and urban gardening continues its slow, but steady, increase in popularity.

When Daley addressed his crowd 14 years ago, Millennium Park was still under construction. Maggie Daley Park, named for the former mayor’s beloved wife, wasn’t even a twinkle in the Chicago Park District’s (CPD) eye. And yet, numerous citywide beautification projects were underway, with some eventually finding their way into the city’s codified ordinances.

“Come to Chicago and you’ll see flowers and shrubs in the street medians, not just downtown, but in the neighborhoods as well,” Daley said. “This is a result of our Landscape Ordinance, which requires developers…to install and maintain landscaping around their property and on the public way.” The law remains in effect today. Daley also took time to boast of the renovation of dozens of fountains and the planting of more than 300,000 trees during his term to date at that time (1989–2001 — Daley would remain Chicago’s mayor until 2011, when Emanuel would succeed him), among many other park and recreation-related achievements.

Daley’s emphasis on beefing up the

12 Parks & Recreation

beauty, usability and items of interest in his city proved incredibly prescient.

“This is quite a wide variety of amenities…but they all have this in common: they improve the quality of life,” he said. “And I believe very strongly that the cities that pay attention — really pay attention — to quality of life will be the cities that thrive in the 21st century.” Chicago’s recently released economic impact study puts provable data to Daley’s assertions — Chicago Parks District’s diverse assets, and specifically its largest magnet properties

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(Soldier Field, Grant Park and museums) brought in an estimated $1.2 to $1.4 billion in economic activity in 2013. If that’s not indicative of a thriving city, this writer isn’t sure what is.

The same educational fervor that in 2001 underscored Maggie Daley’s After School Matters programming, which offered courses in the arts, technology and sports to thousands of young Chicagoans, supports initiatives like today’s underwater video display connecting kids at summer camp on Northerly Island to the nearby Shedd Aquarium. “Education has to take place at all hours, and on weekends and during the summer — and that means enlisting the help of libraries, parks and museums,” Mayor Daley said.

The parallels continue as Daley recounts the Calumet Open Space Reserve project, which in his day revitalized 4,000 acres of prairies, wetlands and forests on Chicago’s far southeast side — the recent completion of Northerly Island Park continues this tradition of thoughtful environmental stewardship for the benefit of all Chicago residents and visitors.

“If you offer the quality of life people desire, they will want to live in your city. It’s as simple as that,” Daley said. Some 14 years later, Chicago is still proving the veracity of that statement, even as its municipal peers scramble to follow suit.

Samantha Bartram is the Executive Editor of Parks & Recreation magazine (sbartram@nrpa.org).

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Community Center Embracing a Multicultural Community of Recently Immigrated Older Adults

By Catrina Belt

I

nclusivity is a core value of parks and recreation and is the epitome of NRPA’s Social Equity Pillar. Through various programs and services, agencies and facilities across the country work hard to ensure that people from all backgrounds and abilities are able to enjoy their parks and recreation facilities with ease. Seattle Parks and Recreation has more than embraced this concept with its Food and Fitness program — serving newly immigrated older adults and their families at facilities throughout the city. This program, which includes advocacy and referral services, nutritious meals, recreation and wellness programs, and a variety of other requested services, is an example of how valuable these inclusive services can be to the surrounding community.

Creating Access “The Food and Fitness program started through a partnership with the Seattle Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens and several community partners who were seeking additional programming space for elders in the community in 2004,” say Jill Ellison, Recreation Program Specialist; Trevor Gregg,

Recreation Manager-Central Operations; and Brenda Kramer, Manager-Lifelong Recreation of Seattle Parks and Recreation — who all work directly with the program. “In an effort to increase access to healthy food choices that were culturally relevant and to increase health and wellness activities for immigrant and refugee

Older immigrants from Korea, Vietnam, Eritrea, Ethiopia and other countries can find free, engaging activities that connect them to the larger community through Seattle Park and Recreation’s Food and Fitness programming.

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elders, Seattle Parks and Recreation created the program with various other agencies that serve immigrant and refugee elders in the community.”

In the Central Geographic District, the Food and Fitness Program hosts the Korean, Vietnamese and Eritrean/Ethiopian elders at Miller, Yesler and Garfield community centers. The free program provides engaging activities, culturally appropriate meals, and health and fitness opportunities for elders who have recently arrived in the United States and the City of Seattle. It also provides an opportunity to connect with the community and socialize in a welcoming, safe environment.

“The programs typically meet two days per week, providing various physical activity programs, including line dancing, tai chi, ping pong, interactive karaoke, partner dancing and multiple special events,” say Ellison, Gregg and Kramer. “Additional services include haircuts, health screenings and program advocacy and referral appropriate to the cultural needs of the elders being served. Education sessions are also offered by social workers, nutritionists and other specialists.” Access to healthy food is also an important facet of this program.

To feed the almost 100 people who attend each session, volunteers prepare and cook culturally specific, healthy meals for the elders in the program to

eat at the facilities and take home to their families. Local restaurants also donate prepared food for the participants during the program.

A Community Effort The Food and Fitness program works with several community partners who help fund and operate its initiatives.

“Program funding was initially provided by the Aging and Disability Services section of Seattle Human Services Department,” say Ellison et al. “Later, this responsibility was transferred to the community providers who were looking for reduced rental costs in an effort to serve more elders. Seattle Parks and Recreation was able to provide the space and gain a tremendous benefit — a connection to elders from the immigrant and refugee communities.

“Seattle Parks and Recreation works very closely with the City of Seattle Human Services Department and the Aging and Disability Network who work hand-in-hand with community partner organizations that provide leadership, staff and support to the programs,” they continue. “Currently, we work with the Asian Counseling and Referral Services, Women’s Refugee Alliance, Korean Senior Club of Seattle and the Vietnamese Senior Association.

These partnerships developed over time through Seattle Parks and Recreation’s connection to Senior Services (the largest agency in the county serving seniors) and to the Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens.”

The success of the Food and Fitness program has been met with an abundance of support from the community for the initiatives and the elders who have recently arrived to Seattle.

The program is not only touching the lives of the elders and families participating in the program, but it is also

tionally, with the food component awakening the outside community to of the program, pick up and delivery new cultures and ways of life. “The of food in compliance with Health Food and Fitness Program provides Department regulations must also opportunities for members of the be met. All these aspects require community to observe, participate in considerable efforts to organize and and welcome elders from other culcoordinate. We are most successful tures and backgrounds,” say Ellison when sponsoring organizations apet al. “Educating the public about ethproach us for facility use.” nic communities is one of our goals.

In spite of these challenges, Food We have begun asking the Food and and Fitness will continue to play an Fitness programs to host an annual important part in the integration of event that’s open to the public in orthe elder immigrant adults into the der to meet our goal. This year, the community and into Seattle Parks Vietnamese Senior Association and and Recreation. “The program is the Korean Associations both invited critical to the successful transition the public to their annual New Year of recently arrived elders who ofcelebration. In addition, we strive to ten speak little or no English,” say integrate Food and Fitness particiEllison et al. “These programs conpants into other park and recreation nect immigrant and refugee elders programs. To date, we have been most to a network of family and friends successful doing this with our Sound quickly, providing the social, menSteps walking program, which is free tal, physical and nutritional needs and is largely led by volunteers.” for the individual. Our hope is to Moving forward, Seattle Parks feed the entire person, thus creating and Recreation is planning to exan opportunity for elders to adapt pand its Food and Fitness programto their new surroundings in a safe ming, even while negotiating some and welcoming space.” significant hurdles. “Oftentimes, To learn more about the Food and the ethnic communities do not have Fitness program, contact Jill Ellison the resources to provide staffing to at jill.ellison@seattle.gov. support the program and look to other organizations, like the Asian

Counseling Referral Service, for asCatrina Belt is an Editorial Intern for Parks & sistance,” say Ellison et al.1:22 “AddiNiceRink-NRPA-1-6HP 7/25/14 PM Page 2 Recreation magazine (cbelt@nrpa.org). #FrozenMemories

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Community Center

Notable News n Longtime members of the NRPA community will recall the immense influence of Robert L. “Bob” Reid Sr., 83, who died July 23 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Reid graduated in 1953 from Erskine College with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and joined Leroy Springs & Co. (LSC) in 1956 as the recreation director. He retired as president and CEO of LSC in 1996, after serving in several positions and on the board of directors. He worked tirelessly alongside Anne Close, a former chair of NRPA’s Board of Trustees, in the initial planning and development of the Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina, and was a driving force in its opening to the public in 1995. He served in leadership capacities in state and national parks and recreation associations, was a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient from the South Carolina Recreation and Parks Association, where he served three years as president, and had been an NRPA member since 1961. He was also the past president of the Field Trial Association, a group that he held dear. Close remarked, “Throughout his career, Bob was a visionary who developed programs and services that created camaraderie and friendships within our community. His informal leadership style and great humor created a wonderful working environment for staff while developing programs recognized throughout the industry for their excellence. His career reflected his own love of the outdoors and recreation, and his desire to share it with others.” n After 43 years of dedication to the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department, Perry Ehresman, deputy director for leisure services, retired August 28. Ehresman worked his way through college with the parks 16 Parks & Recreation

Robert L. Reid

and recreation department, beginning with the after-school recreation program and then in the park’s summer programs. He opened the Reservoir Park’s Cooper Recreation Center in 1975 and was hired as an athletics supervisor in 1979. As deputy director for leisure, he supervised a staff of 25 full-time and about 300 part-time, seasonal and contractual employees.

Ehresman served on the boards of almost every youth sports program, along with Fort Wayne Sports Corp., YMCA and about two dozen other organizations over the years. He was featured in an August 23, issue of the News-Senteninel.com, where he’s quoted as saying, “It’s really been cool to be part of the growth and the tradition of the parks department. It’s not just about the parks; it’s about the people who put in a lot of time. I got paid for what I did, but a lot of people put in a lot of time as volunteers to make these organizations work and make them what they are today.” Ehresman plans to spend his time traveling with his wife, fishing, golfing and spoiling his less-than-one-year-old grandson. n Custom products manufacturer Themed Concepts announced that it has partnered with three children’s

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charities: Feed My Starving Children, Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, and Give Kids the World Village, to develop the Play4Change project, an effort to directly benefit children who struggle with hunger, pediatric cancer and life-threatening illness.

Themed Concepts has been working on the development of this project for the past three-and-a-half years. Each of Play4Change’s three guiding principles — children’s hunger, health and hope — is espoused by one of the three charities with which Themed Concepts has partnered. Anyone who buys one of Themed Concepts’ sculptures will be actively feeding the hungry, treating the sick and giving vacations to children who need them. Themed Concepts’ Play4Change product line has a mission to donate $1 million of its revenue to these three charities during the next five years. n The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, and Green Mountain Power are planning to take the Emerald Lake State Park in Dorset off the grid by turning the park into an “ePark,” powered primarily by solar energy. The plan is to replace an existing power line with solar panels that can generate up to 10 megawatts of electricity. The solar generation would be supplemented by new batteries that store electricity and allow power to be available regardless of whether the sun is shining. Installation is expected to start in the spring. Mary Powell, the president of GMP, says the project is a “great example” of what the state park’s energy future will look like.

For more news from around the industry, visit www.parksandrecreation. org/2015/October/Notable-News.

Hot Topics Do you have a question about which you’d welcome input from your park and recreation colleagues or insights you’d be willing to share with them? Following are some hot topics up for discussion on NPRA Connect, the online discussion board that allows you to network with 50,000 of your peers from all across the country: CPRP Exam Tips Get tips and recommendations on passing the Certified Park and Recreation Professional exam from colleagues who’ve already been through it.

Employee Wellness In the park and recreation field, developing employee wellnesss programs helps you practice what you preach. A wealth of solutions can be found in this discussion of unique ideas that range to fit all budgets and agencies.

Advertising Methods What are the most effective forms of advertising at your agency and how do you track success?

Find out what worked or hasn’t worked from peers dealing with the same issue.

Join the conversation today by visiting www.nrpaconnect. org! Have questions about using Connect or getting started?

Email Hayley MacDonell at hmacdonell@nrpa.org.

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By the Numbers

Parks and the Economy A recent study prepared by the Center for Regional Analysis and George Mason University reveals the economic significance of spending by local and regional public park systems in the United States. The findings are based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau survey of local government employment and spending data from 1,169 park systems accessed through the PRORAGIS database and/or park system budget data from online sources. Below, we’ve highlighted a number of the key figures from the 2015 report, which add to the growing body of evidence supporting the positive impact of parks.

$140 billion:

1 million:

356,000:

$54.7 billion: Total amount the

Total amount of economic activity created by the nation’s local and regional public parks Number of direct jobs across the United States provided in 2013 by local and regional public park agencies

$80 billion: Amount of total economic activity generated by park systems’ operations spending

$38.8 billion:

Amount the gross domestic product was boosted by parks systems’ operations spending

$22.4 billion: Amount local and

Total number of jobs supported by the nation’s local and regional public parks

nation’s local and regional public park systems spent on operation and capital expenditures

$68 billion: Total amount the nation’s

local and regional park systems contributed to the gross domestic product

$43.8 billion: Total amount the nation’s local and regional park systems boosted labor income

regional park systems spent on capital programs

$59.7 billion:

Amount of economic activity generated by local and regional systems’ spending 18 Parks & Recreation

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Source: The Economic Significance of Local and Regional Park Systems Spending on the United States Economy, 2015

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People For Parks Is the Pope for Parks?

By Richard J. Dolesh

T

he short answer: You bet he is. A justifiable amount of hoopla has attended Pope Francis’ recent visit to the United States. After all, there are rock stars and then there is the pope. Pope Francis has commanded the world stage with a presence rarely seen throughout history. Yet for all the worldwide recognition, he is informal, witty and personable. Pope Francis’ candor and humility in addressing the most challenging issues of our time has won him much acclaim, both from world leaders and the general public. Presidential candidates would lust to have even half his approval ratings. proach the critically important responsibility of the care of our environment.

Pope Francis minces no words in his call to stewardship — he chastises those who are responsible for pollution and environmental degradation and skewers those who put economic gain above all other goals. Pope Francis also makes a point of thanking people who work to improve environmental quality and who presently provide stewardship of lands and resources, writing, “Here I want to recognize, encourage and thank all those striving in countless ways to guarantee the protection of the home which we share.”

The pope’s pastoral letter rightfully speaks to all people, not just Catho-

Thinkstock Photos/ neneos

The pope has understandably spoken out on social and religious issues, but he has also spoken with surprising fervor about the condition of our environment and how it affects every one of us who live on planet Earth. This outspokenness is no surprise to those who have studied his early career as a pastor and archbishop in Argentina before being elected as the first pope from the Americas, but his recent papal encyclical, Laudato Si’, directly takes on the weighty subject of the health of our global environment and why the care and stewardship of the environment is everyone’s responsibility.

The encyclical, basically a pastoral letter, sets forth how we should ap-

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lics. He addresses environmental and social conditions in a global context, but the encyclical is also intensely personal at times, particularly when he speaks to the quality of life in cities and local communities.

Regarding the global environmental challenges humanity faces, he writes, “Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day.”

He goes on: “Indicators of the present situation have to do with the depletion of natural resources. We all know that it is not possible to sustain the present level of consumption in developed countries and wealthier sectors of society, where the habit of wasting and discarding has reached unprecedented levels. The exploitation of the planet has already exceeded acceptable limits and we still have not solved the problem of poverty.”

In addition, the encyclical speaks to the problems created by a “throwaway culture,” such as the lack of clean water for much of the developing world and the depletion of natural resources, including the extinction of many wildlife species. Pope Francis challenges nations that have the technology, wealth and means to devise solutions to these problems to step up.

And as we might expect, the pope speaks out most forcefully about human dignity and the need for social equity and environmental justice. He emphasizes the need for parks and green spaces, especially in urban areas, writing, “Many cities are huge, ineffi-

cient structures, excessively wasteful of energy and water. Neighborhoods, even those recently built, are congested, chaotic and lacking in sufficient green space. We were not meant to be inundated by cement, asphalt, glass and metal, and deprived of physical contact with nature. In some places, rural and urban alike, the privatization of certain spaces has restricted people’s access to places of particular beauty…Frequently, we find beautiful and carefully manicured green spaces in so-called ‘safer’ areas of cities, but not in the more hidden areas where the disposable of society live.”

In a larger sense, the pope says that we cannot separate nature from the social context in which it is found.

“When we speak of the ‘environment,’ what we really mean is a relationship existing between nature and the society which lives in it,” he writes.

“Nature cannot be regarded as something separate from ourselves or as a mere setting in which we live. We are part of nature, included in it and thus in constant interaction with it…It is essential to seek comprehensive solutions which consider the interactions within natural systems themselves and with social systems. We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental. Strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature.”

In reflection, the pope’s messages in Laudato Si’ cannot help but strike a deep chord in all who work to improve human dignity and health through parks and recreation.

But have we answered the question, “Is the pope for parks?” True, there is no bumper sticker on the Popemobile

that reads “I Love Parks,” but I think it is safe to infer that Pope Francis really likes parks. After all, when he wants to have a celebration of faith and speak from the heart about his messages, he comes to parks. Where

else but a park can you go to have a million friends join you for Mass and a picnic?

Richard J. Dolesh is NRPA’s Vice President of Conservation and Parks (rdolesh@nrpa.org).

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Member to Member Walk It Out! Urban Walking Trails for Seniors in Harlem

By Amparo Abel-Bey, MPH, Monique Hedmann, MPH, and Anna Tan, BSPH

T

he Walk It Out! program, a Healthy Heart Program funded by the New York State Department of Health, is a comprehensive physical activity program for older adults aged 50 and above in Harlem.

This innovative and exciting program arose in response to a need for senior fitness program that would be available and easily accessible for seniors in Harlem.

Walk It Out! Beginnings Harlem, a historically AfricanAmerican community in New York City, has established rates of higher morbidity and mortality for various health conditions. A review of New York City Health and Mental Hygiene Vital Statistics and National Vital Statistics for 2006 indicates

that cardiovascular disease is the single largest contributor to excess mortality in Harlem. Incidence rates for obesity in Harlem are the highest in New York City, with obesity affecting one in four adults in Central Harlem and one in three adults in East Harlem. Moreover, diabetes rates are among the highest in the

A group of seniors participate in a Walk It Out! program held at Morningside Park in Harlem, New York.

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city, with 13 percent of the adults in East Harlem affected by the disease and 12 percent of the adults in Central Harlem, compared to 7 percent in Manhattan and 9 percent in New York City overall.

In addition, adults over the age of 65 are one of the fastest growing populations in industrialized nations throughout the world and have the highest rates of chronic illness, disability and health care utilization.

It has been clearly demonstrated that regular physical activity is an important factor in the promotion of “successful aging� and prevention of debilitating chronic illnesses and injuries among older adults.

Faced with the combination of a growing adult population and the various health problems in Harlem, it was clear that a suitable fitness program for older African-American adults was needed. As a result, a park trail-based walking program formed as a joint project of NYC Parks and Harlem Hospital Center.

Two key locations, Marcus Garvey Park and Morningside Park, were chosen as sites for development of urban walking trails. Walking is a big part of life in New York, and in various focus groups, seniors noted that having access to quality trails increased their sense of safety, as the terrain is more walkable and they would not encounter traffic from cars or bicyclists.

Walking Trails at Marcus Garvey and Morningside Parks Marcus Garvey Park, which has a number of benefits that make it an ideal location, was chosen for the first Walk It Out! trail. First and foremost, Marcus Garvey Park has tremendous historical and cultural significance for the Harlem community. Formerly known as Mount Morris Park and renamed after the Black Nationalist leader in 1973, Marcus Garvey Park is one of the oldest public spaces on the island of Manhattan, and has been a quintessential feature of the Harlem community for more than 150 years. Second, the park is square-shaped and features a pedestrian-friendly walking path loop just shy of a mile in length and positioned along the perimeter of the park. The majestic beauty of the Mount Morris rock formation, the landmark Fire Watchtower atop the rock, its surrounding trees and lawns, the park’s newly renovated amphitheater, dog run, Little League baseball field and the beautiful brownstones across from the park, among other features, are all visible from the walking path, providing attractive scenery for physical activity. Third, the park is conveniently located between East Harlem, a majority Hispanic community, and Central and West Harlem, majority African-American communities, making it accessible to both ethnic groups of older adults.

Morningside Park, which features a linear, pedestrian-friendly walking path instead of a loop, was chosen as the site of the second Walk It Out! trail. A number of features, including a pond filled with wildlife and a waterfall, make the park ideal for a walking trail. Developed with the Friends of Morningside Park, Inc. and Nancercize,

the Walk It Out! trail includes banners to delineate distance markers, as well as suggest park bench-based exercises that passersby can incorporate into their walks, effectively making the park a “green gym.”

Additionally, the Walk It Out! program provides opportunities for seniors to exercise and socialize with their peers. Walk It Out! places great emphasis on the building of social capital, which dwindles for many older adults overtime with the deaths of friends and loved ones. This is done by having free walking sessions offered six days a week year-round, led by peer instructors through a partnership with New York Road Runners (NYRR).

The NYRR staff guide the seniors through a series of warm-up exercises, accompany them along the trail route, and finally, lead the seniors through some cool-down exercises and stretches at the conclusion of the walk during the course of 90 minutes. NYRR also sponsors various walk, run and race events, which help provide a goal toward which seniors can work during Walk It Out! sessions.

The Walk It Out! sessions served as a platform to develop related programs, such as the Dance of the Village Elders senior dance fitness class taught by an Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater instructor, Shape Up NYC free fitness classes (offerings include Zumba, yoga and kickboxing) and Healthy Food Tours, where seniors walk to various local restaurants in Harlem, try food samples and learn about ways they can support healthy eating in their own neighborhood.

Lastly, Walk It Out! utilizes an incentive-based model where participants receive various branded

items like t-shirts, water bottles, pedometers, etc., as well as invitations to seasonal appreciation ceremonies and events over the course of their continued and consistent participation in the program. Through these diverse engagement efforts, participating seniors consistently attended Walk It Out! sessions, developed greater self-confidence and found social support, on top of easing pain and maximizing exercise efficiency through walking.

Moving Forward Walking trails are one of the best examples of a relatively inexpensive and sustainable initiative that enhances and encourages outdoor physical activity in highly sedentary communities. Walking trails also add to the aesthetics of the community by providing a new landmark destination and boosting neighborhood pride. It is important to remember, however, that walking trail initiatives must involve the agreeable collaboration of invested community entities and must incorporate input from residents. Future endeavors in other environments, including rural and suburban areas, should take into account the history, culture and health profile of the surrounding community and weave these unique elements into the fabric of the initiative.

Amparo Abel-Bey, MPH, is a Research Assistant at the Stroke Division, Neurological Institute, at Columbia University Medical Center (aca2134@columbia.edu). Monique Hedmann, MPH, is a Program Manager at the Stroke Division, Neurological Institute, at Columbia University Medical Center (mgh2113@columbia.edu). Anna Tan, BSPH, is a graduate student in the Department of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health (att2129@columbia.edu).

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ADVOCACY

Safe Routes to School National Partnership: Working to Make Underserved Communities Safer for Walking and Biking

By Sara Zimmerman [Ed. Note: This month, we host a guest Advocacy column from one of our best colleagues in policy and advocacy, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership. NRPA joins all active transportation advocates in mourning the recent passing of Deb Hubsmith, the founder of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership. Hubsmith was a visionary leader and a reminder of how one committed person can inspire an entire movement for healthier kids and stronger and safer communities. We honor and celebrate her amazing legacy and commit to continuing her great work.]

As parks and recreation professionals know, Americans are suffering from an obesity epidemic and a physical inactivity crisis. These problems are affecting Americans across the board but are hitting communities of color and low-income communities the hardest. Walking or bicycling to get around — whether to work, school, the park or other des24 Parks & Recreation

tinations — has a key role to play in helping to increase physical activity and improve health. Why? Because it can provide an easy way to integrate more activity into everyday routines.

I saw this firsthand when I started cycling the 4-mile commute to my last job and suddenly started getting an extra 40 minutes of exercise per day without adding any time to my

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commute. As a recent NRPA report on Safe Routes to Parks shows, “People who have easy access to parks are 47 percent more likely to walk at the daily recommended level than those who do not have easy access.”

But even though walking and bicycling are healthy and affordable ways to get around, these activities are currently more dangerous in low-income communities and communities of color than others. What do those dangers look like? Studies show that children and adults from low-income households have a higher risk of being injured or killed while walking than residents of upper-income areas. National-

ly, fatality rates are twice as high for people walking in low-income metro areas versus upper income areas, and similarly, Latino and African-American pedestrian fatality rates are twice that of whites.

What’s the explanation for this? Decades of disparate investment and governmental policies have resulted in low-income communities having poorer infrastructure for walking and bicycling and more high-speed, high-traffic roads. While almost 90 percent of high-income areas have sidewalks on one or both sides of the street, in low-income communities that percentage drops to less than 50 percent. We see the same discrepancies when comparing other street design factors that make for safe walking and bicycling — low-income communities have fewer streets with lighting, fewer crosswalks and fewer street features to slow traffic or protect people on foot or bicycle.

But these aren’t the only factors that affect the experience of low-income people and people of color walking and bicycling. Higher rates of crime and violence in many low-income areas can discourage walking and bicycling or make those activities frightening and dangerous. Drivers also treat white and black pedestrians differently, with one preliminary study indicating that twice as many cars pass without stopping when African-Americans wait to cross streets at crosswalks compared to when whites wait. As initiatives such as Vision Zero — a multinational road traffic safety project that started in Sweden and that aims to achieve a highway system with no fatalities or serious injuries in road traffic — focus on enforcement efforts in the quest to reduce injuries from vehicle collisions, it is crucial that they develop concerted strategies to ensure that these efforts protect low-income people and people of color, rather than target them.

Despite the hazards, walking and bicycling are already prevalent among low-income people and people of color. Low-income people have the highest rates of walking and bicycling to work. Latino and African-American children are more likely than white students to bike or walk to school, and low-income children are twice as likely to walk to school as children from higher-income families. Moreover, although surveys usually don’t count walking trips when they accompany another mode of transportation, more than 60 percent of transit riders walk to get to and from their transit stops, and a high percentage of transit users are low- to moderate-income or African-American.

High rates of low-income Americans and Americans of color walking and bicycling, dangerous conditions for doing so, and a huge health need for more physical activity — all of these show the close links between equity and active transportation. As we determine next steps, we need to follow the lead of low-income communities; address issues of concern, such as gentrification, racial profiling and crime; and work to see substantial community-directed investments in making low-income neighborhoods and neighborhoods of color safer for walking and bicycling. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership has laid out some of these possibilities in our recent publication, At the Intersection of Active Transportation and Equity: Joining Forces to Make Communities Healthier and Fairer, and we look forward to partnering with the park and recreation community and others as we work to make sure that everyone can get where they need to go safely and healthily.

PARKS & R Salsbu

Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec

Sara Zimmerman is the Technical Assistance Director at the Safe Routes to School National Partnership (sara@saferoutespartnership. org).

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L AW R E V I E W

Women Busted for Bare Breasts in Public, Not Men

By James C. Kozlowski, J.D., Ph.D.

O

n August 20, 2015, the New York Times published an article

by James C. McKinley, Jr., titled, “Topless in Times Square: A Legal View” (http://nyti.ms/1JQksLG).

The article describes the desnudas (Spanish for naked) thusly: “Young women [who] approach tourists in Times Square and pose for photos [then ask for a tip], wearing nothing but a thong and a feathered headdress, their bare breasts painted with patriotic colors in a thin simulation of a bikini top.”

According to the article, the appearance of these “women in body paint” had stirred up “many questions about civil rights,” including “gender equality” where women are prohibited from going topless, but not men. In so doing, the article references a “1992 Court of Appeals ruling on the state law that said women could indeed be topless in public.”

In fact, the 1992 case referenced in the article, People v. Santorelli, (80

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N.Y.2d 875; 600 N.E.2d 232; 587 N.Y.S.2d 601; 1992 N.Y. LEXIS 1609), did not hold that “women could indeed be topless in public.”

On the contrary, the New York State Supreme Court simply held the state had failed to meet its constitutional burden of proof for discriminating against women in this particular instance. Specifically, the state had failed to demonstrate an important government interest to be achieved

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through the gender classification in the challenged state law.

In Santorelli, two women were arrested for baring their breasts in a Rochester public park. Their arrest was based on a section of the state penal code that prohibited the exposure of “private or intimate parts” of one’s body in public. For females, such private or intimate body parts included “that portion of the breast which is below the top of the areola.” The female defendants claimed this state law was “discriminatory on its face” because the statute defined “private or intimate parts of a woman’s but not a man’s body as including a specific part of the breast.”

As a general rule of statutory interpretation, the state supreme court

would presume the constitutionality of a state law and “uphold its constitutionality if a rational basis can be found to do so.” However, in this particular instance, the state supreme court found the state had made no attempt whatsoever in the trial court and on appeal “to demonstrate that the statute’s discriminatory effect serves an important governmental interest or that the classification is based on a reasoned predicate.”

Moreover, the state supreme court found this particular penal statute “was aimed at discouraging ‘topless’ waitresses and their promoters.” The court also cited precedent which had held this particular penal statute should not be applied to “any noncommercial, perhaps accidental, and certainly not lewd, exposure alleged.” As a result, the state supreme court held the law, which supposedly provided the legal basis for the women’s arrest, was not applicable to the circumstances in this particular case.

The state supreme court, therefore, affirmed the dismissal of this case.

Go Topless Similarly, in the case of Tagami v. City of Chicago, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90149 (E.D. Ill. 7/10/15), a federal district court found the government had failed to present any evidence that the “predominant purpose” of a challenged ordinance was to “combat the harmful secondary effects of public nudity.”

On August 24, 2014, plaintiff Sonoko Tagami participated in “GoTopless Day” organized by “GoTopless,” a nonprofit organization that advocates for the right of women to appear bare-chested in public. GoTopless Day occurs at sites around the world and Tagami participated in the event from 2010 to 2013.

On August 24, Tagami was wearing opaque body paint and “protesting the existence of laws that prevented women from appearing bare-chested in public.” A Chicago police officer cited Tagami with violating Municipal Code of Chicago § 8-8-080 (the “ordinance”), which prohibits indecent exposure. The ordinance provides as follows: Any person who shall appear, bathe, sunbathe, walk or be in any public park, playground, beach or the waters adjacent thereto, or any school facility and the area adjacent thereto, or any municipal building and the areas adjacent thereto, or any public way within the City of Chicago in such a manner that the genitals, vulva, pubis, pubic hair, buttocks, perineum, anus, anal region, or pubic hair region of any person, or any portion of the breast at or below the upper edge of the areola thereof of any female person, is exposed to public view or is not covered by an opaque covering, shall be fined not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00 for each offense. Municipal Code of Chicago § 8-8-080.

Tagami filed a federal civil rights claim, alleging the ordinance was being applied to her “expressive activity” in violation of her constitutional rights.

As noted by the federal district court, the First Amendment not only “protects the expression of ideas through both written and spoken words,” but also “symbolic speech, which is nonverbal activity sufficiently imbued with elements of communication.” According to the court, conduct would constitute protected “symbolic speech” under the First Amendment when “(1) the conduct demonstrates an intent to convey a particularized message, and (2) there is a great likelihood that the message would be understood by those who viewed the conduct.”

That being said, the court acknowledged that merely “being in a state of nudity is not an inherently expressive condition” protected by the First Amendment.

When analyzing the likelihood that those who view the alleged symbolic speech will understand the message, courts consider the circumstances surrounding the conduct at issue...The timing of conduct, during or around issues of great public moment, may transform otherwise bizarre behavior into conduct that most citizens would understand.

Accordingly, the specific issue before the federal district court was “whether Tagami engaged in expressive conduct when she appeared in public wearing opaque body paint covering her otherwise bare chest during a GoTopless Day event.” Within the context of a GoTopless event, the federal district court found Tagami had indeed sufficiently alleged that she had “engaged in expressive conduct protected by the First Amendment.”

Here, Tagami alleges that she and other women around the world annually protest the legal prohibition of women appearing in public bare-chested by actually appearing bare-chested in public, although wearing opaque body paint. She alleges that the participants’ intent is to convey the message that women, like men, should be allowed to appear bare-chested in public and the act of appearing so protests this prohibition.

Having found the requisite degree of expressive conduct, the federal district court then considered whether the ordinance violated Tagami’s First Amendment right to freedom of expression. As noted by the court: “Public nudity laws such as the one at issue have consistently been deemed content-neutral statutes that regulate conduct and not expression.” Moreover,

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L AW R E V I E W

the court acknowledged “a regulation of public nudity will be upheld” if the following criteria are met: 1. The regulation is within the constitutional power of the government; 2. The regulation furthers an important or substantial governmental interest; 3. The governmental interest is unrelated to the suppression of free expression; and 4. The restriction on alleged First Amendment freedoms is no greater than essential to further the government’s interest.

Under the circumstances of this particular case, the court focused on the second criterion, i.e., “whether the ordinance furthers an important

tiary support for its contention that the ordinance furthers the city’s substantial interest in health and safety and in protecting unwilling audiences from exposure to nudity.” In so doing, the court would require the city to “produce some specific, tangible evidence establishing a link between the regulated activity and harmful secondary effects.” In the opinion of the federal district court, the city had failed to “put forth any evidence to show that its predominant purpose was to combat the harmful secondary effects of public nudity.”

According to the court, in determining the constitutionality of a particular anti-nudity regulation, judges

In this particular instance, the federal district court found the city “must provide some evidentiary support for its contention that the ordinance furthers the city’s substantial interest in health and safety and in protecting unwilling audiences from exposure to nudity.” or substantial governmental interest.” As noted by the court, “the ordinance contains no statement of its justification and defendants fail to present any evidence of the city’s justification for passing the ordinance.”

In contrast, the court cited the text of another anti-nudity ordinance which had “identified two substantial government interests: preventing offense to those unwillingly exposed to nudity and promoting the public health, morals and general welfare.”

Similarly, in this particular instance, the federal district court found the city “must provide some eviden28 Parks & Recreation

have “been consistent in requiring that a regulating body produce some specific, tangible evidence establishing a link between the regulated activity and harmful secondary effects.”

Having found Tagami had sufficiently alleged a First Amendment claim, the federal district court denied the city’s motion for summary judgment to dismiss the case.

Important Governmental Interest?

Unlike the State of New York in Santorelli and the City of Chicago in Tagami, in a number of other cases, governmental entities have indeed been

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able to demonstrate the requisite “important government interest” in prohibiting women, but not men, from going topless in public, particularly in public parks and recreation areas.

Moreover, as illustrated by the Craft and Biocic decisions described below, public agencies have been able to establish that the chosen gender classification was substantially related to achieving an important government interest.

In the case of Craft v. Hodel, 683 F. Supp. 289; 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3307 (Dist. Mass. 4//4/1988), the issue before the federal district court was “whether, and if so, where, when and how the Constitution compels the government to allow nudity in public.”

The female plaintiffs in this case claimed “a National Park Service regulation prohibiting public nudity — particularly the exposure of female breasts — at the Cape Cod National Seashore” violated their “First Amendment right to free expression and their Fifth Amendment right to equal protection.” The regulation at issue, 36 C.F.R. 7.67(g) (1975), provided as follows: Public nudity, including public nude bathing, by any person on Federal land or water within the boundaries of Cape Cod National Seashore is prohibited. Public nudity is a person’s intentional failure to cover with a fully opaque covering that person’s own genitals, pubic areas, rectal area, or female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola when in a public place. Public place is any area of federal land or water within the Seashore, except the enclosed portions of bathhouses, restrooms, public showers, or other public structures designed for similar purposes or private structures permitted within the Seashore, such as trailers or tents. This regulation shall not apply to a person under 10 years of age.

As characterized by the court,

plaintiffs effectively claimed the regulation prevented them from using public nudity to express their views on a matter of political concern by exposing their breasts. Specifically, plaintiffs claimed “their shirt-free appearances on the Seashore have been designed to provide expressions of opposition to the exploitation and inequitable treatment of women in American society.”

As noted by the court, “nudity alone conveys no specific content to whatever message is communicated.” On the contrary, public nudity is “a medium by which a variety of messages may be conveyed.” Accordingly, public nudity could be “clothed with expressive qualities worthy of constitutional protection” under the First Amendment if considered “symbolic speech.” As described by the court, protected symbolic speech would require that “the actor intended to convey a particularized message” and “the likelihood was great that the message would be understood by those who viewed it.”

When public nudity constitutes protected symbolic speech because it expresses a political view understood as such by the reasonable observer, such symbolic speech would still be subject to reasonable time, place and manner restrictions whereby the government could legitimately prohibit public nudity.

In this particular instance, the federal district court found plaintiffs’ “shirt-free appearances at the Seashore constitute expressive conduct protected to some extent by the First Amendment.” Moreover, the court found the challenged regulation was “content neutral,” i.e., “not based upon either the content or subject matter of speech.” On the contrary, in the opinion of the court the chal

lenged regulation “simply regulates the way in which protected activities may be carried on and it requires that they be carried on clothed.”

In evaluating the constitutionality of the challenged regulation, the court would apply the following test to determine the existence of valid time, place and manner restrictions.

Regulation of protected speech must: A. Be justified without reference to the content of the regulated speech; B. Serve a significant or important governmental interest; C. Be narrowly tailored to serve that interest; and D. Leave open ample channels for communication of the information, the expression of which it restricts.

In this particular instance, the federal district court found “three substantial governmental interests are served by the regulation:” i. Preservation of the natural Seashore environment and the promotion of aesthetics; ii. Preservation of the Seashore as a beach available for the enjoyment of all persons; i.e. prevention of the preemptive effect nude bathing would have on the majority’s use of the public beach; and iii. Protection of the public from the offensiveness of public nudity.

The National Park Service had contended “nudity on the Seashore is disturbing to other users, such as families, and causes them to avoid the beach.”

The federal district court agreed, finding public nudity could reasonably be considered “offensive conduct” within the context of maintaining the attractiveness of the Seashore for all users. As a result, the court found “the government has a substantial interest in shielding the population” from “an influx of nude bathers/demonstrators, and their following of voyeurs.”

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W W W. N R PA . O R G | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5 |

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L AW R E V I E W

Equal Protection In their complaint, plaintiffs also alleged the regulation violated “the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment” because it permitted “males to walk and play and swim ‘shirt-free’ upon the Seashore whereas it denies women the same ‘rights.’” The federal district court agreed that the regulation distinguished “between males and females and accords a ‘freedom’ to males that it denies to females.” Accordingly, to withstand a constitutional challenge under the Equal Protection Clause, the federal district court acknowledged that “the gender classification recognized in the regulation must (1) serve important governmental objectives and (2) must be substantially related to achievement of those objectives.”

Plaintiffs claimed “the disparate treatment accorded male and female chests under the regulation does not further an important or legitimate governmental objective.” On the contrary, plaintiffs argued the regulation “reflects archaic and stereotypic notions,” perpetuating “cultural stereotypes equating the female breast and women with sexual fantasies, irrespective of the wishes of women to treat their bodies with the same freedom available to men.”

In the opinion of the federal district court, the legislative objective of the regulation was legitimate and “not based on stereotyped notions.” Specifically, the court found the intent of the regulation was “to protect the public from invasions of its sensibilities, and merely reflects current community standards as to what constitutes nudity.” According to the court, the regulation simply recognized “a physical difference between the sexes which has implications for the moral 30 Parks & Recreation

and aesthetic sensitivities of a substantial majority of the country.”

As cited by the federal district court, the Equal Protection Clause “does not require things which are different in fact to be treated in law as though they were the same,” includ-

Plaintiffs claimed “the disparate treatment accorded male and female chests under the regulation does not further an important or legitimate governmental objective. ing the natural “distinction between that portion of a woman’s body and that of a man’s torso.”

The Equal Protection Clause does not mean that the physiological differences between men and women must be disregarded. Those differences must never be permitted to become a pretext for invidious discrimination. However, the Constitution surely does not require a state to pretend that demonstrable differences between men and women do not really exist…

Unlike the situation with respect to men, nudity in the case of women is commonly understood to include the uncovering of the breasts. Consequently, in proscribing nudity on the part of women it was necessary to include express reference to that area of the body.

As a result, the federal district court found the gender classification in the challenged regulation was reasonably based on the distinct differences between male and

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female chests and had “a fair and substantial relation to the object of the legislation, so that all persons similarly circumstanced are treated alike.” Moreover, the court found the regulation’s gender-based distinction was “substantially related to the achievement of the government’s important governmental objective of protecting the public from invasions of its sensibilities.”

In so doing, however, the federal district court in this 1988 opinion acknowledged that “nudity is a social concept, a changing social perception” which has become more liberal over time. (One need only look to what was considered acceptable bathing attire at public beaches for both men and women in the 19th and early 20th centuries, versus the present day.) That being said, as determined by this federal district court in 1988, and arguably through the present in most public recreation areas, “community standards have determined that women’s breasts are an intimate part of the human body, and that their exposure constitutes nudity.” On the other hand, the court noted legislative bodies enacting public nudity laws have generally recognized that “public exposure of men’s breasts may be unpalatable to some, [but] society has decided such exposure is not so offensive as to require prohibition.”

As a result, the federal district court granted summary judgment to the government, effectively dismissing plaintiffs’ First Amendment and equal protection claims.

Erogenous Zones Similarly, in the case of United States v. Biocic, 928 F.2d 112; 1991 U.S. App. LEXIS 4015 (4th Cir. 3/13/1991), plaintiff claimed her conviction under a public nudity regulation that pro-

hibited the public exposure of female breasts, but not male breasts, had denied her equal protection of the law.

On a summer day in June 1989, Ms. Biocic, an adult female, was walking on the beach on the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Accomack County, Virginia, with a male companion. “To get some extra sun,” as she put it, she removed the top of her two-piece bathing suit, fully exposing her breasts. She was observed in this state of partial nudity by an officer of the federal Fish and Wildlife Service who issued her a summons charging a violation of 50 C.F.R. § 27.83, which provides that any act of indecency or disorderly conduct as defined by state or local laws is prohibited on any national wildlife refuge.

Reiterating the reasoning described above in Craft, the federal appeals court in Biocic similarly found the gender classification in the challenged public nudity regulation was “substantially related to an important governmental interest” that did not deny females equal protection of the law.

The important government interest is the widely recognized one of protecting the moral sensibilities of that substantial segment of society that still does not want to be exposed willy-nilly to public displays of various portions of their fellow citizens’ anatomies that traditionally, in this society, have been regarded as erogenous zones. These still include (whether justifiably or not in the eyes of all) the female, but not the male, breast.

Additional examples of related court cases may be reviewed in the author’s previous Parks & Recreation magazine articles, “Does the Constitution Protect Nude Bathing at a Public Beach?” (http://cehdclass.gmu.edu/

jkozlows/lawarts/05MAY90.pdf) and “Sunbather Gives City the Shirt off Her Back to Test Nudity Ban in Parks,” (http://cehdclass.gmu.edu/ jkozlows/lawarts/07JUL91.pdf).

James C. Kozlowski, J.D., Ph.D. is an attorney and Associate Professor in the School of Recreation, Health and Tourism at George Mason University (jkozlows@gmu. edu). Webpage with link to law review articles archive (1982 to present): http:// mason.gmu.edu/~jkozlows.

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FUTURE LEADERS

How Young Professionals Engage Underserved Communities

P

arks & Recreation magazine wanted to learn how young professionals engage traditionally underserved populations to increase their access to services. So, we reached out to three talented individuals for their insights: Allison Williams, a MobilizeGreen Resource Assistant intern with the U.S. Forest Service and Appalachian Trail Conservancy, has been a member of NRPA since 2008; Atuya O. Cornwell, CPRP, who holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise sports science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an master’s from Pfeiffer University, currently serves as a representative on NRPA’s Young Professional Network, Program Committee and Public Policy Committee. He has worked with The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in Wheaton, Maryland, and also with the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, and is the 2015 recipient of the NRPA’s Robert W. Crawford Young Professional Award; and Kayode Lewis, M.Ed., CPRP, who holds a bachelor’s in education and master’s of education in teaching and learning — policy and leadership from the University of Maryland, College Park, serves as Coordinator of Instructional and Youth programs for the University of New Hampshire Campus Recreation Department and is the 2014 NRPA Young Professional Fellow, 2013 AAPRA Young Professional Extern and 2012 NRPA Diversity Fellow.

Parks & Recreation magazine: How can young professionals help to in-

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crease access for underserved populations?

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Kayode Lewis: Do your due diligence. Determine who your customers are. Census data provides a statistical portrait of the ethnicities, ages, level of education and income of your residents. Value lies in the knowledge gained through informal interactions with the key stakeholders (community members, seasoned staff, etc.) familiar with your community’s nuances. Treat each citizen as a key stakeholder. A socially equitable approach requires an understanding of patrons who are involved. This information can be used to develop services for populations who lack access. It is our responsibility to provide quality services for everyone.

Allison Williams: As an intern with the U.S. Forest Service and Appalachian Trail Conservancy, I was

tasked with strengthening youth involvement and diversity through outreach and volunteer service. Engaging diverse populations takes passion and willingness to make partnerships work. This job is not a one-time deal.

Providing youth with a seat at the table to discuss environmental and sustainability issues requires an ongoing commitment: attending meetings, joining coalitions and really being the face for change.

P&R: How can we best assess the public’s need in order to deliver services that are in-demand?

Lewis: An assertive communications style requires the sender to be clear and firm in his or her intent while maintaining the respect of others. Assertive communicators employ empathy in every interaction. They speak “with” and “to” their patrons. They possess an awareness of their own socioeconomic status and its implication on their notion of privilege and bias. Identify and design assessments to elicit the feedback to develop programs for all patrons. Social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), needs assessments and public information from city council/ executive board meetings provide professionals with the tools that can help them effectively gauge the interests of their communities.

P&R: What types of professional development resources can leisure professionals use (beyond asking their supervisors) to gain the skill set necessary to serve marginalized portions of their communities?

Atuya Cornwell: Actively engage your peers because the knowledge that is available among park and recreation professionals and students is absolutely amazing and beneficial. By attending NRPA Annual

Conferences and/or state conferences, serving on local, state, and national committees, and sharing best practices with peers from across the country, your community and its citizens will be the benefactors of a “people first”-based industry.

Williams: Professional development is a great way to grow. In addition to working with the U.S. Forest Service, I have also gained experience as an AmeriCorps member. Volunteering offered an avenue to pursue my passion for increasing access to open space and public lands. Volunteer experience shows your future and present employer that you are willing to go outside your normal boundaries to help and gain experience doing something totally different.

P&R: How has your involvement with NRPA helped you to gain such skills?

Williams: Being an NRPA member gave me the gateway to seek out a profession in the conservation field. I have attended conferences and that’s where I networked and became engaged. Through my professional and personal relationships with my new friends, I found the field I am in now.

Without being involved in this organization, I would not have found the path to a field that would lead me to writing about it now.

Cornwell: It has meant the world to my professional development, in turn transforming me into a better public servant with the tools to enhance the lives of the citizens in my community through beneficial sports and recreation programs.

P&R: What advice would you give to other young professionals seeking to gain a creative edge in engaging

traditionally undeserved segments of their communities?

Cornwell: Let your passion and genuine desire to serve humanity be exposed. I have found success in building relationships with traditionally underserved communities by supporting and engaging local organizations that already have a relationship established with those populations.

These service organizations are excited to have a park and recreation professional on their team based on the respect and admiration they have for our expertise. The long-term benefit is a relationship that can lead to the creation of new programs that touch the lives of those who once did not have the opportunity to be exposed to the rewards of participating in park and recreation-led programs.

Williams: As a person actively engaging in these initiatives at work, I continue to volunteer and work with different groups outside of my current position. This work isn’t just a job. It comes from passion to see equitable access for citizens and professionals alike. Strive through your personal and professional goals to encourage more people to partake in the benefits. Patience is a virtue and partnership is the way to have more diversified and inclusive outdoor recreation in America.

Lewis: Seek the ongoing opportunity to learn how the industry is changing. Gain an understanding of the socioeconomic and organizational constraints facing participants and use those perceived barriers as opportunities to develop new services.

Your bilocation as a young professional and community liason offers you a seat at the table to eliminate your agency’s service gaps.

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ADVOCACY

Ten Million Kids Outdoors and Counting

By Richard J. Dolesh

T

hree years ago, NRPA, in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), launched an ambitious initiative at the National Congress on Parks and Recreation in Anaheim, California, to connect 10 million kids to nature and the outdoors. NRPA and NWF believed that by working together, they could engage hundreds of park and recreation agencies and thousands of schools and other institutions in providing meaningful time outdoors for children and youth in nature-based outdoor activities, especially in recurring activities and experiences which have been shown to have the most impact on creating a love and appreciation for nature.

In the three-year period since then, more than 700 park and recreation agencies and more than 8,000 schools have succeeded in engaging 13.8 million kids in a meaningful outdoor nature-based experiences.

This number exceeded our original goal by 38 percent and indicates that almost one in five children in the United States participated in nature activities at parks, schools

34 Parks & Recreation

and family events.

The response of NRPA member agencies to the call to participate was amazing. More than 700 park and recreation agencies signed on in support of the initiative, with NRPA and NWF providing extensive training and online resources for thousands of park and recreation professionals during the past three years.

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Combating ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’ The original reasons for the 10 Million Kids Outdoors campaign were based on the recognition that kids in America were becoming increasingly disconnected from nature and the outdoors. Stimulated by the work of Richard Louv and his book “Last Child in the Woods,” many parents, educators, and park and recreation professionals were very aware of what Louv calls “nature deficit disorder,” or the increasingly negative impacts of children spending too much time indoors behind computer and television screens and not enough time outdoors.

The larger goals of the 10 Million Kids Outdoors campaign were to encourage parents, grandparents and caregivers to spend time out-

doors with kids; to encourage child-serving institutions, including park and recreation agencies and schools, to provide more opportunities for kids to spend in nature-based activities; and to encourage policy reforms at all levels to enable more kids to spend outdoor time in nature.

Several powerful lessons have been learned during this campaign. Among them is that the patterns of play for children have changed dramatically and, today, fewer kids have opportunities to play unsupervised outdoors. Furthermore, as kids have become increasingly disconnected from nature play, the knowledge of how to play outdoors and what to avoid by way of hazards, such as stinging insects or noxious plants, have made kids more fearful of and parents more reluctant to turn kids loose in nature.

Sadly, there is growing recognition that kids will lose an affinity for outdoor nature play if they have much less opportunity and desire to engage in it.

Beyond 10 Million Kids The numerical goals of the 10 Million Kids Outdoors campaign have been met and exceeded, but the longterm goals of this campaign continue to remain a high priority for both NRPA and NWF. One program you will be hearing more about in the near future is the Wildlife Explorers program that NRPA and NWF are developing in cooperation with a new partner, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

The Wildlife Explorers program, now in pilot demonstration phase with a dozen park and recreation agencies, is intended to reach kids, particularly in underserved communities, who otherwise don’t have much of an opportunity to experience nature. The program will focus on providing nature-based activities in after-school programs, day camps and playground settings. Look for more information on the Wildlife Explorers program, which we soon hope to ramp up to a national program, in coming months.

We may have reached 10 million kids, but the challenge of continuing to connect kids to nature and the outdoors in meaningful nature-based activities will not be finished until every public park and recreation agency incorporates this goal as part of their mission, and every kid in America has a chance to play outdoors safely and discover nature in close-to-home parks and nature places.

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Richard J. Dolesh is NRPA’s Vice-President of Conservation and Parks (rdolesh@nrpa.org).

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ADVOCACY

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Parks and Recreation Help Step It Up!

By Samantha Bartram

P

arks and recreation professionals always have health and wellness on the brain, but sometimes the most obvious forms of exercise can get short shrift in favor of shiny new equipment or the latest fitness craze.

Walking is the most accessible form of physical activity — regardless of ability level, age or socioeconomic status — everyone can get up and take a walk.

Walking was surely top of mind for attendees of this year’s Annual Conference, as our sprawling host site at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas required a great deal of pedestrian travel to get from place to place. Our special Opening General Session guest speaker, United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, focused his entire address on the benefits of walking, why this activity is vital to fighting preventable chronic disease and improving overall wellness, and how parks and recreation fill an essential role in its promotion.

Murthy’s address came quickly on the heels of his September 9 Step It Up!

36 Parks & Recreation

call to action (www.surgeongeneral. gov/library/calls/walking-and-walkable-communities/index.html), which implores more Americans to be physically active through walking. Murthy noted the natural connection between walking and parks — “Parks and recreation are the centers of our communities,” he said during the September 15 Opening General Session. “Parks and recreation centers are also centers of health that help build a foundation for a healthier life.” In light of this, Murthy extended his hand to the field of parks and recreation as a partner in public health.

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Such outspoken, high-level support bolsters the case for integrating multimodal transportation into our cities.

It underlines the need for fully funded departments of parks and recreation, which are uniquely positioned in the community to promote healthy activities like walking. It also encourages us, as park and recreation professionals, to break out of our silos and seek partnerships with healthcare organizations that can provide ancillary resources like BMI testing and blood pressure monitoring as we assist our patrons in weaving walking into their daily lives.

“The requests of my office are simple,” Murthy said. “We want to see more people commit to walking and healthy living. [The work of park and recreation professionals] in neighborhoods help make our communities more amenable

to physical activity…We agree that when people have access to parks and green spaces, they lead healthier lives. That’s why, more than ever, we need parks and we need them now.”

Murthy’s Goals The Step It Up! call to action lists five goals to promote walking and walkable communities: Goal 1: Make walking a national priority • Encourage people to promote walking and make their communities more walkable.

• Create a walking movement to make walking and walkability a national priority.

Goal 2: Design communities that make it safe and easy to walk for people of all ages and abilities • Design and maintain streets and sidewalks so that walking is safe and easy.

• Design communities that support safe and easy places for people to walk.

Goal 3: Promote programs and policies to support walking where people live, learn, work and play • Promote programs and policies that make it easy for students to walk before, during and after school.

• Promote worksite programs and policies that support walking and walkability.

• Promote community programs and policies that make it safe and easy for residents to walk.

Goal 4: Provide information to encourage walking and improve walkability • Educate people about the benefits of safe walking and places to walk.

• Develop effective and consistent

messages and engage the media to promote walking and walkability.

• Educate relevant professionals on how to promote walking and walkability through their profession.

Goal 5: Fill surveillance, research and evaluation gaps related to walking and walkability • Improve the quality and consistency of surveillance data collected about walking and walkability.

• Address research gaps to promote walking and walkability.

• Evaluate community interventions to promote walking and walkability.

out a prescription for how the field can best capitalize on the momentum Murthy has given to the subject of walking.

“Although parks and recreation departments across the country have been making strides in creating walkable communities and promoting walking, we still have a long way to go,” Banner continues. “To achieve the goals of the call to action, everyone will need to play their part. With national attention, now is the time to Step It Up! and increase your efforts to get communities across America to walk more.”

“Three of these goals are particularly relevant to parks and recreation and will help us to promote walking and increase walkability in our communities,” writes Rachel Banner, NRPA’s program manager, in her recent blog on the subject, “What the Surgeon General’s Call to Action on Walking Means for Parks and Recreation” (www. nrpa.org/Blog/ What-the-SurgeonGeneral-s-Call-toAction-on-WalkingMeans-for-Parksand-Recreation).

Banner cites goals two, three and four as those pertaining most to parks and recreation, and lays

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How You Can Step It Up! NRPA has prepared extensive materials to illustrate the many benefits of walking, from increased longevity to better mental health and savings at the bank. Our handy Get Out and Walk infographic, included here and available for download, is an excellent tool to help demonstrate to patrons why walking is so important for health.

NRPA’s Safe Routes to Parks initiative (www.nrpa.org/uploadedFiles/ nr pa.org/Publications_and_Research/Research/Papers/Park-Access-Report.pdf) provides great resources about how to make sure your parks, green spaces, and walking paths and trails are accessible to all users. Safe Routes to Parks addresses obstacles to walking — including safety, lack of proximity, infrastructure and other concerns — and offers solutions to remove any accessibility barriers that exist in your community. We’ve also provided a downloadable Safe Routes to Parks-specific infographic, which can help inform your community and elected officials about the value of universal accessibility to walking.

Both the aforementioned infographics and additional walking-related information is available at NRPA’s Walking Initiatives resource page, www.nrpa.org/Walking-Initiatives. This includes an informative animated video that can be shared via email or social media, various tool kits, design guidelines, planning resources, opportunities for funding and scholarships and success stories of places that have made the promotion of walking a top priority.

Perhaps the most important thing you can do to promote walking, however, is to lead by example.

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During his Annual Conference address, Murthy shared an anecdote about his mother and the difficulty he experienced trying to get her out and walking. He mused, how can the Surgeon General make this impassioned call for walking, while his own mother won’t get on board?

Eventually, he shared, Mrs. Murthy did see the wisdom in her son’s suggestions and is out for a brisk walk practically every day, but not before he spent the time to convince her walking was both physically beneficial and safe in her community.

We would do well to follow in Murthy’s footsteps. Let’s begin in our own homes, by encouraging our spouses, partners, children, parents, friends and loved ones to get up and get walking for at least 22 minutes a day, every day. Then, let’s take that momentum to our parks and recreation facilities and support our co-workers and colleagues in their walking and fitness goals.

When everyone is walking, it will become easier to communicate to our patrons why they, too, should incorporate this fun and widely accessible exercise modality into their daily routines. Once that’s done, it’s only a matter of time until each new build or neighborhood revitalization naturally incorporates safe and extensive sidewalks, green spaces for respite and corridors of connectivity that allow us to use our feet, rather than our automobiles, as primary modes of transportation.

“Parks make our communities more desirable places to live, work and play,” Murthy told us in Las Vegas. “With your support and leadership, we can Step It Up!” Samantha Bartram is the Executive Editor of Parks & Recreation magazine (sbartram@ nrpa.org).

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Visit www.nrpa.org/Walking-Initiatives to view the infographics and watch the video

WELCOME TO

CHICA Chicago Park District, in fruitful collaboration with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and community support groups, endeavors to cultivate a world-class park system in the American Midwest

By Jessica Maxey-Faulkner and Michele Lemons

40 Parks & Recreation

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AGOLAND A

ccessibility to parks and recreation activities holds invaluable importance to any and every community. As the largest provider of recreation in the city, the Chicago Park District (CPD) shoulders the awesome responsibility of ensuring that each of the city’s 77 communities are equipped with facilities and programs that meet the needs and interests of the people they serve. These interests vary from community to community and can differ among the neighborhoods that make up these areas. A tailored but equitable approach ensures that every resident, particularly our children, can learn, grow and thrive in our parks. Activities like swimming, overnight camping, seasonal sports and playground activities have an indelible impact on the quality of life of children and their families. This effect has a rippling influence that can strengthen a community and build bridges among neighbors.

In recent years, CPD has committed to and invested in projects designed to draw people from across the city to play together. Under the leadership of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CPD Superintendent Michael P. Kelly, following are outcomes of some of CPD’s signature programs and facilities that are currently serving the city’s population.

Mayor Emanuel’s Chicago Plays!

Playground Renovation Program Outdoor recreation is recognized by early childhood educators as a critical foundation for the future learning of our young children. More than just a place to play, playgrounds also support a child’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive development. In addition, playgrounds have

been known to serve as the anchor of communities, where neighbors gather and community bonds are formed. With this in mind, in 2013, Mayor Emanuel challenged CPD Superintendent Kelly to make a big impact on the city’s playgrounds.

Together, the leaders announced that during the next five years, CPD would rebuild, repair and/or refurbish 300 playgrounds in communities across Chicago.

Mayor Emanuel’s Chicago Plays! program has since been hailed as one of the most aggressive playground rehabilitation initiatives in the country. Just two years after its inception, CPD is ahead of schedule and on track to hit its five-year goal in just four years. The rehabbed playgrounds feature colorful elements, soft surfacing and accessible play equipment for children of all ages and abilities.

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CHICAGOLAND

Nature Programming in the City While photographs of high-rise buildings, bustling streets and congested expressway traffic dominate commercial images of Chicago, eco-recreation and nature programming have grown consistently in the city’s parks during the past few years.

A recent example of that growth is the highly anticipated completion of the southern portion of Northerly Island Park. Once an airport known as Miegs Field, which served a small few, the new nature preserve in its place is open to all. In September, Mayor Emanuel, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin (D), representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Superintendent Kelly joined community members to officially open Chicago’s newest nature area on Northerly Island.

The 43-acre park has transformed the former airport into a beautiful nature area featuring a 1-mile multipurpose trail, a 5-acre lagoon that is hydraulically connected to Lake Michigan, nature trails, boardwalks,

rolling hills providing views of the city and refuge for migratory birds, native plantings to attract a wide range of birds and insects, camping locations, educational areas for park programming and a lacustrine shelf along Burnham Harbor to provide fish habitat.

Chicago’s parks are full of vibrant experiences and resources in dance, theater, visual arts and music.

CPD will team with Chicago museums (located within a short distance of the island) to establish educational programming to provide children with opportunities to camp and learn about nature. For example, the pond feature of the island will

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel chats with children during the opening of Northerly Island Park.

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include an educational video display of the underwater habitat with a live feed to the Shedd Aquarium. Soon, thousands of children will enjoy a visit as part of CPD’s summer camp program, which attracted 45,000 day campers in 2015.

“The remarkable transformation of Northerly Island has fulfilled Daniel Burnham’s ultimate vision for the area, creating a spectacular green space in the midst of a bustling city, protecting and enhancing our lakefront for generations to come,” Emanuel said during the event dedication. “This world-class urban oasis doubles as a giant educational campus for our kids; children from every Chicago neighborhood will now have the opportunity to camp and learn about nature through programming offered by the Park District and our museums.”

Creative Ways to Create Public Space Some of Chicago’s neighborhoods are extremely dense, making the acquisition of parkland challenging.

This past summer, an additional 2.7 miles of parkland became available to residents and visitors of Chicago thanks to the completion and opening of The 606 park and trail.

Located on the city’s northwest side, the new park is a transformative project that turned an old railroad embankment into a recreational trail and park system. The project is a major investment in green space that will benefit neighborhood residents and people throughout Chicago. The park and trail system features six ground-level parks, a wheel-friendly event plaza, an observatory, various art installations, educational programming and other amenities.

It serves as a community connector for some of Chicago’s most densely populated neighborhoods includ-

ing Bucktown, Wicker Park, Logan Square and Humboldt Park, turning the physical barrier of old railroad embankments into a unifying park and elevated trail system. The 606 now provides an urban oasis for the 80,000 people, including 20,000 children, who live within a 10-minute walk of its borders.

More than a decade in the making, the concept to turn an unused rail line into an elevated trail was officially called for in Chicago’s 2004 Logan Square Open Space Plan to add additional green space to one of the city’s most park-poor neighborhoods. Community support led to the creation of Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail, which advocated for the transformation of the unused space. The project was accelerated by city leadership, and broke ground in August 2013. A true public-private partnership, The 606 is funded via a mix of federal and local funding, with almost half of the project costs coming from private donations under the leadership of The Trust for Public Land.

From Community Eyesore to Neighborhood Asset A few blocks west of the Cook County jail system may not seem like an obvious place for a brand new park, but when there are 5,800 neighbors with children under the age of six within a 10-minute walking distance, it’s exactly what the community needs.

Dedicated in December of 2014, La Villita Park is an impressive 21.5acre park in the Little Village neighborhood of the South Lawndale Community and was developed as a result of years of planning, with input gathered at more than a dozen stakeholder and public meetings.

But, it’s more than the proximity to the county jail that makes this park unique. La Villita occupies a

Youth, ages 13-17, who participate in the Windy City Hoops year-round community basketball leagues, are also provided with jobs, training and mentoring.

former brownfield, previously the site of an industrial complex that polluted and degraded the area.

Designated by the EPA as a Superfund site, the property went through extensive remediation. The cleanup process was completed in 2009 and CPD acquired the site in 2012.

The agency worked closely with the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO), which advocated clean-up of the site for years, to develop plans for the new park.

La Villita Park is extremely significant to the surrounding Little Village neighborhood. Today, the park has two artificial turf athletic fields with lighting, three natural-grass athletic fields, a skate park, basketball courts, community gardens, passive landscape areas, a large playground with a water-spray feature, a picnic pavilion, comfort stations with concessions, a multiuse trail with fitness stations and environmentally friendly utilities.

Before the opening of La Villita

Park, the South Lawndale community ranked number two out of 77 community areas most in need of open space, with an open space deficit of 78.09 acres. La Villita Park reduces the open space deficit to 56.67 acres, and South Lawndale now ranks number seven out of 77 with respect to open space need.

Arts in the Parks CPD’s Arts in the Parks initiative highlights the cultural assets available to Chicago’s citizens and the professionals working within them. Chicago’s parks are full of vibrant experiences and resources in dance, theater, visual arts and music.

For example, CPD provides visual and media art opportunities for all ages and abilities with more than 900 classes in parks throughout the city.

Experienced instructors and committed community partners offer visual and media arts instruction in a variety of genres and skill levels. The district houses specialty studios and

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CHICAGOLAND

equipment for ceramics, jewelry/lapidary, woodshop and more.

In addition to spaces dedicated to multipurpose arts experiences, Chicago’s parks are the settings for a world-class collection of almost 300 fountains, monuments and sculptures. There are 11 official museums on park land and nine Visual and Media Arts Partners in Residence.

Public art installations are growing exponentially in Chicago’s parks.

Last year, CPD and Chicago Sculpture International commissioned lo-

cal artists to turn dead or dying trees that are infested with Emerald Ash Borer or other bugs and diseases into living public art. Known as the Chicago Tree Project, the initiative uses art as a vehicle for community engagement throughout Chicago parks and creates unique opportunities for citizens to celebrate the beauty of nature. Each Chicago Tree Project artist aims to create an impact on the neighborhood and park visitors.

Live entertainment in Chicago parks took off in a big way with the

In some Chicago communities, sports programs in parks offer play, recreation and a safe haven for at-risk youth.

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launch of “Night Out in the Parks” three years ago. Night Out in the Parks started as a summer series of world-class performances set in neighborhood parks. The 2015 Night Out in the Parks series has expanded past the summer months, and will bring more than 1,000 events and programs to neighborhood parks throughout the city. In addition to providing the benefit of entertainment in one’s own community, the series quickly served another purpose: to attract visitors to neighborhood parks, making them safe havens and hubs of activity while discouraging unwanted activity.

Sports Initiatives for At-Risk Youth In some communities, sports programs in parks offer a benefit in addition to play and recreation — in many areas, such initiatives serve as a safe haven.

Realizing this, in 2013, Mayor Emanuel and Superintendent Kelly partnered with NBA Hall of Famer and Chicago basketball legend Isiah Thomas to launch the expansion of one of CPD’s most successful community basketball leagues, “Windy City Hoops.”

With additional support from the Nike Corporation, the program seeks to provide a safe environment for at-risk youth throughout Chicago.

While basketball instruction is available across the city, this particular program builds on other initiatives designed to expand proven programs that provide at-risk youth with jobs, training and mentoring. The program is at about a dozen parks throughout the city and is targeted year-round to at-risk youth ages 13-17.

“Keeping our streets safe is about more than just police work — it requires that we provide our kids with productive opportunities to learn teamwork and leadership skills,”

Mayor Emanuel said of the program.

“For me, as a child in Chicago, basketball was a way that I could enjoy myself, make friends, stay safe and obtain the education I needed to succeed in life” said Thomas, at the time of the announcement. “I am happy to be involved with a program that will allow many others the same valuable opportunities that I had. I was taught to try and use the sports platform to go out and help others and better my community.”

Road Map to the Future: Parks Prove Their Economic Worth As park and recreation professionals, we know it’s difficult to attach a monetary value to the work we do and the services we provide. Still, CPD set out to quantify the influence of its assets and programming on the city’s overall economic health.

The results: A recent analysis revealed that parks and playgrounds are a driver of economic growth in Chicago. The analysis concluded that CPD properties add at least $900 million to the value of residences located close to parks. Furthermore, major events, special assets and tourism in these parks drive an economic impact of between $1.2 billion to $1.4 billion for the city each year.

The analysis was developed with Civic Consulting Alliance, Global Economics Group and Roland Berger Strategy Consultants and examined each of the 585 CPD-owned parks, making it the most comprehensive study ever undertaken of a park system’s economic benefit.

To determine economic impact, the parks’ relative influence on property values and the revenues generated by major events, special assets and tourism in parks were assessed.

The analysis found that residential properties located within two blocks of a park, or 43 percent of all resi

Chicago Park District Superintendent Michael P. Kelly participates in a ribbon cutting ceremony at Rogers Park.

dential properties in Chicago, experience an average of 1.5 percent higher property values — adding $900 million in value to these properties. CPD parks are classified by type and size, including mini-park, magnet and citywide. Mini-parks (playgrounds or small playlots), which represent 25 percent of all parks, have the largest economic impact to property values within .15 miles of a park, increasing those property values by 2.8 percent on average.

The findings confirmed that recent investments made in Chicago’s parks, playgrounds and recreational spaces were benefitting neighborhoods and providing a better quality of life for residents. The information also provides a road map to future initiatives.

“The findings of this analysis will enable us to make more informed decisions, such as long-term capital investments, programming changes, marketing strategies and business development opportunities,” Superintendent Kelly said.

Chicago parks are an essential thread in the fabric of the city. In addition to connecting residents and visitors with nature, parks support active and passive recreation, social engagement, community building, quality of life and economic development. The investments made today must be undertaken with a thoughtful approach, not only of the way parks are currently utilized, but also how future generations will expect to recreate.

As today’s park planners, we have a great responsibility to continue the legacy of Jens Jensen, Daniel Burnham, Frederick Law Olmstead and others whose vision and efforts created the park system we’re so fortunate to have inherited.

Jessica Maxey-Faulkner is the Director of Communications for the Chicago Park District (jessica.faulkner@chicagoparkdistrict. com). Michele Lemons is the Deputy Director of Communications for the Chicago Park District (michele.lemons@ chicagoparkdistrict.com).

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Social Equity in Parks for the Transgender Community

By Linda Oakleaf

E

arl doesn’t swim anymore, although he used to. In fact, he doesn’t go into locker rooms at all anymore if he can avoid them. “I went one time in a men’s locker room. I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. I was so anxious. I felt like I went and changed in a stall.

It was like, ‘This is not worth it.’”

Earl is transgender. He transitioned several years ago, and, as a result, he feels that parks aren’t as safe a place to be as they once were.

His concerns are reasonable. In a national survey of 6,450 transgender and gender nonconforming individuals, slightly more than a quarter (26 percent) reported having been

assaulted because of their gender identity and one-fifth (22 percent) reported being denied equal treatment by a government official. We have a responsibility to provide safe and healthy recreation opportunities to all of our citizens. Any agency that is not specifically addressing the needs of its transgender users may

be obstructing participation without knowing or intending to do so.

Our programs and facilities can pose particular challenges for transgender individuals. For instance, many of the programs we provide are aimed at a specific gender. Even co-ed teams in many sports have rules that require a certain number of women to be on each team. Limiting activities in this way may unknowingly put recreation agencies into the gender policing business, where they must create policy to determine who is “really” male or female. Often, our forms require

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TRANSGENDER EQUALITY

participants to choose M or F, when transgender individuals may put themselves somewhere else on the spectrum and use terms like “genderqueer.” Facilities like locker rooms and restrooms can also be difficult for transgender individuals to navigate safely, especially in the absence of family restrooms or locker rooms.

The net effect of these barriers may be to reduce participation in physical activity. Park and recreation agencies have a responsibility to become part

time and full- time staff members.

This is a step that, as of this writing, NRPA has not yet taken. Its position statement on the Social Equity Pillar (www.nrpa.org/About-NRPA/ Impacting-Communities/Social-Equity) does not address gender identity. Without written guidance, staff members may not know how to respond when a transgender individual contacts them about accessing programs and facilities. This should not be an open question for your staff.

Any agency that is not specifically addressing the needs of its transgender users may be obstructing participation without knowing or intending to do so.

of the solution rather than part of the problem but may feel they lack the knowledge or understanding needed to adequately serve the transgender community. However, agencies can take concrete steps toward encouraging equitable access to recreation facilities and services. The needed changes can be sorted into three categories: agency culture, policies, and facilities and programs.

Agency Culture It is vitally important to foster a welcoming environment for transgender individuals, so addressing your own workplace culture is the first step.

This step requires that the agency first know that there’s a need and be committed to serving transgender individuals. You should put your commitment into writing, stating explicitly that transgender individuals are welcome in your facilities and programs.

Ensure that your nondiscrimination statements include gender identity, and explain your stance to both part48 Parks & Recreation

Actions speak even louder than words, and when an agency creates programming that is specifically targeted at the transgender community, for example hosting a transgender swimming hour, that sends a message to staff members about the culture of the organization. When time and funds are devoted to such efforts, it sends a strong message to staff that discriminatory behavior is not tolerated. All agency efforts to create equitable access to programs and facilities should thus be communicated to all staff, including seasonal or parttime staff. Administrators may also consider additional training for staff members to help them understand the needs of the transgender community.

Even better would be to recruit qualified transgender individuals to positions of leadership within the agency.

For example, if there are positions open on an advisory board, you might specifically send the notification to your local transgender organization.

You may also wish to create an ad hoc

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committee of transgender individuals to advise your park system on how to structure your programs, facilities and policies to meet their needs.

Policies The next step is to ensure that your policies are welcoming of transgender participants and staff. Written policies can help drive norms within your agency, so this step can also affect agency culture. Poorly written policies can have the effect of barring transgender individuals from participation altogether. When crafting policy, your first priority should be to reach out to local members of the transgender community, ask them what they need, and listen carefully to their responses. Many communities have an LGBT center, which is a great place to start if you don’t already have contacts in the local transgender community. There may also be transgender support groups in your city or county.

In general, the most transgender-positive policies will be those that allow the individual to determine for themselves which facilities or programs are most appropriate. Anyone using your facility should have full access to the changing, shower and restroom areas that correspond to their gender identity.

People participating in sport or other programs should be able to participate in accordance with their gender identity, should that be relevant, regardless of any medical treatment. Policies that rely on identity documents, such as driver’s licenses, are problematic, since one-third of transgender individuals do not have identification that matches their gender identity. Similarly, policies that are based on medical status, such as whether patrons are taking hormones, can create needless hurdles for users to clear just so that they can participate. Equitable access necessitates removing any obstacles to partici-

pation. All policies should be in writing and should be readily available to the public and staff.

Programs and Facilities Once you have addressed your organizational culture and put transgender-friendly policies in place, you can focus on your programs and facilities. You may find that there is some interest and need for programming that is aimed specifically at the transgender community.

Partnering with a community group to provide this will help you reach out to potential users and ensure that you are providing a service in which the community is interested.

Such partnerships can be very productive. For example, City Gym in Kansas City partnered with a group of transgender men to start a fitness program. The program gave participants a safe space, both physically and emotionally, to accomplish their fitness goals (“Transgender men build their bodies, confidence at KC’s City Gym,” Kansas City Star, August 3, 2015, www.kansascity. com/living/article29851999.html).

That partnership came about partly because the gym had gender-neutral changing rooms. Gender-neutral or family changing rooms and showers can help many transgender individuals feel safer, but not all transgender individuals will wish to use them.

You will also need to ensure that there are partitions between showers and a stall with a door in the men’s restrooms. Facilities that allow for privacy while changing benefit more people than just the transgender community, while also increasing safety and comfort for transgender individuals. Agencies should take a critical look at all of their facilities to assess whether privacy is available to all users.

While small changes may make

your policies, programs and facilities more accessible to transgender individuals, a more concerted effort may be needed to ensure success. If this is the case, you will want to make a formal plan. You will need to assemble a group to create goals and objectives for the plan; do an assessment of your policies, programs and facilities; and determine what changes should be made. Again, make sure that you get input from community members, especially the transgender community.

Once your plan is in place, you will need to monitor it for success and possibly make adjustments as time goes on. The most important thing is that your agency commits to serving this underserved group, because providing equitable access to parks makes our communities healthier, happier places to be for everyone.

Linda Oakleaf is an Assistant Professor in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department at Missouri Western State University (oakleaf@gmail.com).

8 Tips for Creating a More Equitable Environment for Transgender Individuals

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Put it in writing! Include gender identity in your nondiscrimination statement wherever it appears in your written and online materials.

Talk to the local members of the transgender community. Invite members of the community to sit on an existing advisory board, or create an advisory committee that specifically addresses LGBT issues and includes transgender members.

Create formal partnerships with the transgender organizations in your community.

Get out of the gender policing business and institute explicit policies that allow individuals to determine which facilities and programs are most appropriate for them.

Train your staff about your policies and procedures and give them the tools they need for positive and welcoming interactions. Bring in outside expertise if you feel that you need it.

Do an assessment of facilities. How private are they? Sometimes the fix is relatively inexpensive: for example, adding a shower curtain or a door on an existing stall.

Check your forms! Do you require people to choose M/F? You should consider doing it this way instead: Gender_______________

Ensure that all of your programming is trans-inclusive and provide some trans-specific programming, too.

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2015 NRPA Annual Conference: Inspirational and Invigorating

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015 was a big year for NRPA. We celebrated our 50th anniversary and culminated the observation with an incredibly successful Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Close to 7,500 dedicated park and recreation professionals converged for three days of education, inspiration, play and networking, underscored by an important message repeatedly communicated to us throughout the event: Our work matters.

Not just in terms of keeping our playgrounds up to code and our swimming pools free of gunk — park and recreation professionals provide safe haven, education, nutrition and increased health and wellness through the facilities and programming we provide. Because we show up every day, committed to our important work, the people we serve have a greater chance of living longer, healthier lives.

If there was any doubt as to the veracity of this statement, it was erased by the remarks of United States Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, who spoke during the Opening General Session.

So essential is our role in fighting preventable chronic disease and supporting wellness that America’s top doctor felt it important to personally extend

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his hand in partnership for cultivating a healthier America. “We are part of a movement to educate friends and neighbors that fighting for green spaces is nothing less than a public health battle,” he said. “I’m ready to stand with you as a partner in public health.”

Buoyed by such remarks, the following days of site visits, education, exhibit hall displays and networking opportunities took on a special meaning for many of us. This year, we renewed our certifications and earned CEUs not just for our own professional advancement, but also on behalf of the very welfare of our communities. Many education sessions focused on the myriad aspects of Social Equity and what that means as an NRPA Pillar, in practice and in planning for future programming

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and facilities. The Health and Wellness Pillar was fully represented, with dozens of sessions and exhibitors extolling the benefits of quality programming and amenities. Conservation also made a strong showing with our magical monarch butterfly release and several education sessions focused on connecting children to nature, among other topics.

Our big Parks Build Community reveal at Joe Kneip Park in North Las Vegas showed how the Three Pillars work in concert, providing a top-notch park and playground for a largely underserved community that will offer opportunities to exercise, appreciate open green space and socialize with neighbors.

As in past years, NRPA leadership and staff cherish the opportunity to spend these days with members, educators, researchers, vendors and visitors who share in our mission to advance parks and recreation for the benefit of all. If you were unable to join us in Las Vegas, or wish to review key moments of the Conference, go to www. nrpa.org/Conference2015/Event-Resources to revisit the Opening General Session speeches, download materials from education sessions or propose your own session for 2016.

In the meantime, let Surgeon General Murthy’s words continue to inspire as you go about your important work: “We face big challenges that threaten our health and future — never believe that these are bigger than our collective will. If we work together, every day, we can build the infrastructure our communities deserve to remain healthy for generations to come.”

Preparing for Action

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he 2015 NRPA Annual Conference was about action. It was about inspiration. It was about urgency. Our Opening General Session keynote speaker, Gil Penalosa, and special guest United States Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, let us know, in no uncertain terms, that as park and recreation professionals we have a pivotal role in supporting greater health, wellness and equity for the people we serve. “Parks and recreation are the centers of our communities,” Murthy said. “Parks and recreation centers are also centers of health. They build a foundation for a healthier life.”

Because our facilities are, in most cases, free, open and accessible to all members of the public, parks and recreation means increased quality of life is within reach of every American citizen. “Everyone in America deserves a safe place to walk and wheelchair roll,” Murthy continued.

He underscored his recent Step It Up! call to action (www.surgeongeneral. gov/library/calls/walking-and-walkable-communities/index.html), which implores communities across the country to support smart infrastructure — including safe sidewalks and bike lanes — and, in turn, cultivate a healthier way of life for all residents. “Your work in neighborhoods makes communities more amenable to physical activity,” Murthy said.

“More than ever before, we need parks, and we need them now.”

Supporting this heartening call to action was Penalosa’s rapid-fire presentation, which cast our role as park and recreation professionals in a global light. “Parks and recreation is part of the solutions to the world’s greatest

problems,” Penalosa said. And not just in terms of lowering obesity and heart disease — Penalosa highlighted park and recreation’s role in leveling the playing field for all communities regardless of race, age, ability or socioeconomic composition. “If you really care about poor people, we must improve the quality of leisure time available to all people,” he said. Penalosa highlighted his 8 80 initiative and the simple test anyone can employ to determine if their neighborhood is walk- and wheelchair-roll friendly.

“Think of a child, about 8 years old, that you love,” he said. “Now, think of an 80-year-old that you love. Then ask yourself, would you send them walking or cycling on their own? Would they feel safe? What if our parks, streets and cities had to be great for both 8- and 80-year-olds? Then, it would be great for all people.”

Fifty years after NRPA’s inception, voices like Murthy and Penalosa let us know that parks, recreation and leisure time are not just optional add-ons — they’re essential to our health and well-being. Penalosa told

us that, as park and recreation professionals, “We save lives for a living.” In his brief remarks, outgoing NRPA Board Chair Detrick Stanford let us know, “You are innovators.” In her opening comments, NRPA CEO Barbara Tulipane said, “You are the champions.” So, when incoming NRPA Board Chair Susan Trautman asked the thousands of NRPA members in attendance, “What will we do in the next 50 years?” there were doubtless several answers swirling in the collective consciousness.

Let us know how you plan to support the calls to action levied during our 50th anniversary Opening General Session. Visit NRPA Connect (www. nrpaconnect.org) to share your great ideas. Comment on magazine articles at www.parksandrecreation.org.

And, if you need an extra boost of inspiration as we head into fall and another new year, revisit Murthy, Penalosa, Tulipane, Stanford and Trautman’s inspirational comments at www.nrpa.org/Conference2015/ Event-Resources.

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Education Sessions: Where Theory Meets Practice

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enjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, is quoted as saying, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” It’s a sentiment with which many who attended the recent NRPA Annual Conference in Las Vegas would agree. Kyle Sandine, aquatic and rink program supervisor for the Park District of Oak Park shared: “This was my first national conference and as a young professional, it was one of the best experiences of my life. The amount of information I learned was phenomenal and provides the next step in my career.

My master’s degree taught me a lot of theoretical skills; NRPA taught me practical skills which was the perfect blend.”

Theory meets practicality in many of the almost 300 educational sessions where subject matter experts who’ve essentially “been there; done that” share their real-life experiences and provide attendees with valuable takeaways. Anita Pesses, division chief of public affairs and marketing for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, captures this sentiment best: “NRPA Conference is by far the best learning experience for parks and recreation managers — I always bring home things to implement right away, and things to ponder.”

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This year’s educational offerings not only covered a diversity of topics — from learning about drones in parks and developing marijuana policies, to the next steps in social media, and planning and designing the next generation of parks, and more — but did so in a variety of ways.

Through 12 Off-Site Institutes, the Las Vegas Local Host Committee helped attendees get to know the real Las Vegas. Clark County Museum Administrator Mark Hall Patton took them on a “Mystery History Tour” around Las Vegas Valley and

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from Crystalaura Jackson and Alice Hulslander at the Clark County Wetlands Park, they picked up some tips for connecting their community to nature in the “Helping Communities Get Their Nature On” session.

Some even had the opportunity to get wet trying their hand at log-rolling during the “Las Vegas Aquatics — Play and Practice” tour of Pavilion and Garside pools.

Back by popular demand this year were the Learning Labs, Learning Playground and Glass Room Sessions, where attendees frequently were out of their seats, participating in interactive sessions, or had the opportunity for smaller, more intimate interaction with session presenters.

If you were unable to join us in Las Vegas this year, you still have access to the handouts from many of the educational sessions at www.nrpa. org/Conference2015/Event-Resources. The time you spend reviewing the sessions may be applicable toward your CEU requirements for CPRP renewal.

Planning is already underway for next year’s Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, and we’re poised to accept proposals for sessions you’d like to see in our lineup of education offerings. NRPA will begin accepting education session proposals October 5 and proposals for Speed Sessions will be accepted in early spring 2016 — visit www. nrpa.org/proposals for submission details. In the meantime, visit www.nrpa.org to keep abreast of all the announcements, deadlines, contests and more as we gear up for St. Louis!

Exhibit Hall Creativity on Display T’was the eve before the Annual Conference, and all through the exhibit hall, vendors and staff were hurrying to finish the install.

By the time the doors officially opened the very next day, attendees were drawn in by a variety of amazing and awesome displays.

To the show floor they came, close to 7,500 NRPA members, to learn about and “kick the tires” on a wide range of products and services.

The latest in playground equipment and complex water features were just a few of the dazzling array of exhibits on view.

More than 300 companies enlivened the space, including a nimble slack line walker who traversed his inch-wide stage with grace.

Lassie, the original canine superhero, was also on hand. As the Save the Children’s ambassador for “Get Ready.

Get Safe,” she demonstrated a plan to help protect children across the land during disasters and storms as best as we can.

Along with the serious business at hand, members had a chance to unleash the kid in them in this more than 350,000-square-foot play land.

They climbed through and over obstacles, slid down slides, scaled climbing walls, played hockey or tennis, even took turns being human bowling balls.

Around every corner, there was a chance to be had, to win some neat prize or make off with some swag.

Those who entered the Learning Playground and the Learning Lab were in for a treat, more often than not, they were out of their seats — engaged in some lively, off-the-wall sport or interactive learning feat.

Kay Park Recreation’s in-line booth received the Best in Show blue ribbon.

There was plenty of networking, learning and buying — the buzz in the hall was truly invigorating.

As in Charlotte in 2014, the competition among exhibitors for the coveted Best in Show prize was keen. The judges were in an unenviable position because theirs was a truly tough decision. When the votes were counted and the results revealed, two companies had met the judges’ ideal of being most engaging and innovative indeed: Kay Park Recreation for best in-line booth and Playworld for best island booth. Two red ribbon runners-up rounded out the field: Berliner Seilfabrik for island booth and Save the Children for in-line booth.

Throughout the day, on a giant social media wall, members tweeted their comments to one and all, about their experiences in Mandalay Bay’s South Convention exhibit hall. Along with the swag, scavenger hunt, cash giveaways and prizes, 50th Anniversary Conference attendees and exhibitors agreed, their expectations this year’s show floor once again did exceed. So this year’s conference has ended and is now in the books. If you missed it, you may want to look at planning to join us as we recreate this wonderful scene in St. Louis, October 6-8 in 2016.

Playworld received a Best in Show blue ribbon for the island booth category.

Berliner Seilfabrik won the red ribbon for Best in Show runner-up in the island booth category.

Save the Children received the red ribbon for Best in Show runner-up in the in-line booth category.

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Big Winners in Las Vegas

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he 2015 NRPA Annual Conference was an excellent venue to formally recognize the outstanding park and recreation professionals whose work elevates our entire field. Here, find a brief recap of the 2015 award recipients.

National Awards NRPA’s National Awards recognize the people and programs that best highlight the phenomenal work being done in our field.

Robert M. Artz Citizen Advocacy • Dave Anderson, City of Elk River, Minnesota Robert W. Crawford Young Professional • Atuya O. Cornwell, The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Greenbelt, Maryland Excellence in Inclusion Award • The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Excellence in Innovative Programming • Frederick County Parks and Recreation, Maryland Facility or Park Design • City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department, Florida • Barb King Environmental Stewardship • Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation, Indiana • Kudos Marketing • Milwaukee Recreation and Community Services, Wisconsin National Distinguished Professional Award • Christopher M. Nunes, Ph.D., CPRE, The Woodlands Township, Texas 54 Parks & Recreation

National Partnership • City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation, Georgia Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt Award for Excellence in Recreation and Park Research • Daniel R. Williams, USDA Forest Service, Ft. Collins, Colorado Park Champions of the Year The Park Champion of the Year Award is given to the NRPA member who advocated for parks and recreation and organized or facilitated an event showcasing his or her agency to a member of Congress and/or that member’s staff.

Following are this year’s recipients: • Adriane Johnson Buffalo Grove, Illinois • Ryan Risinger Buffalo Grove, Illinois Park of the Future The Illinois State University student group’s winning park design incorporated NRPA’s Three Pillars by addressing universal access, stormwater management and opportunities for health and recreation. Winning team members included Dylan Broombaugh, Haley Bess, Spencer Freed, Alexis Yakich and Dr. Tracy Mainieri.

Robert W. Crawford Hall of Fame Leaders inducted into the Robert W. Crawford Recreation and Park Hall of Fame have made lasting contributions to the advancement of recreation and parks. Following are the 2015 inductees:

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• Richard A. Tapply New Hampshire State Office of Community Recreation Services • Allen V. Sapora University of Illinois Gold Medal Awards Park and recreation agencies recognized as Gold Medal winners have demonstrated their excellence in planning, management, programming and innovation. The 2015 Gold Medal Award Grand Plaque recipients include: • Class I (pop. 400,001 and over): Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Greenbelt, Maryland • Class II (pop. 150,001 – 400,000): Plano Parks and Recreation, Plano, Texas • Class III (pop. 75,001 – 150,000): City of St. George Leisure Services Department, St. George, Utah • Class IV (pop. 30,001 – 75,000): Park District of Oak Park, Oak Park, Illinois • Class V (pop. 30,000 or fewer): Oak Brook Park District, Oak Brook, Illinois • State Parks: Delaware State Parks • Armed Forces Recreation: Marine Corps Community Services, Marine Corps Installations West – Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California Pugsley Awards The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration announced three winners of its Honorable Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medals, which recognize lasting and outstanding contributions to the advancement of public parks in the United States. The 2015 winners include Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), John C. Potts and Dr. M. Kathleen Perales.

A GREAT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM STARTS WITH GREAT TRAINING

The Maintenance Management School is a comprehensive two-year professional development program designed to teach park and recreation professionals how to develop and manage a wide variety of maintenance programs, and allow people in the same field to connect and share similar issues.

January 31 - February 5, 2016 Oglebay Resort and Conference Center Wheeling, West Virginia

Find out more at www.NRPA.org/MMS Official Sponsor

Viva, Joe Kneip Park

“T

he commitment made by the city of North Las Vegas and the investment of the many donors supporting this Parks Build Community project will surely return Joe Kneip Park to a vibrant life,” NRPA Director of Conservation Jimmy O’Connor wrote in his July Parks & Recreation magazine article, “Dissecting a Park: Joe Kneip Goes Under the Blade,” (www.parksandrecreation.org/2015/July/ Dissecting-a-Park-Joe-Kneip-Goes-Under-the-Blade). Turns out his predictions were spot on, as hundreds of onlookers, dignitaries, community sponsors and business partners stood in awe of Joe Kneip Park’s incredible transformation during its unveiling September 17.

The North Las Vegas neighborhood park, which has served as a community hub for generations — since 1965, specifically, setting it up to celebrate its 50-year anniversary alongside NRPA — received a major overhaul in just a few short months. Its dilapidated playground, restroom facilities, sports fields and gathering spaces were replaced with shining new equipment, modern shade structures, environmentally

friendly LED lighting, a splash pad, newly resurfaced basketball courts, and still more. The community that surrounds it — comprised largely of underserved, low-income families of color — flocked to the revitalized site, energized to have a state-of-theart park right in its backyard. The sparkling Von Tobel Middle School Student Mariachi Band, Fay Herron Folkloric Dancers and appearances from a gorgeous Las Vegas showgirl

and Parks Build Community Local dignitaries, sponsors, NRPA staff of Joe Kneip Park sponsors celebrate the official opening ual Conference.

Ann A NRP 2015 September 17, during the

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Hundreds of children and families came out to enjoy all the new equipment at Joe Kneip Park.

and authentic Elvis impersonator helped add to an already festive atmosphere.

Through time crunches and weather setbacks, North Las Vegas community leaders, residents and sponsors persevered. Today, they have a beautiful new park to show for it.

“People ask what this park means — it’s the very fabric of who we are,” Isaac Barron, Ward 1 councilman for North Las Vegas, said during the dedication. “People in this area deserve access to the very best. Your efforts and generosity will make a direct impact on the people who live here.”

NRPA is proud to have played a part in Joe Kneip Park’s renovation, but we couldn’t have done it without the generosity of our 2015 Parks Build Community sponsors, donors and supporters. To learn more about Parks Build Community, visit www. nrpa.org/parksbuildcommunity.

You Did It! You Rebuilt Joe Kneip Park!

Thank you to the companies and individuals who donated to the 2015 Parks Build Community project in North Las Vegas. Together, we have given the community surrounding Joe Kneip Park a special place of which we can all be proud.

® ™

Leon Andrews Robert F. Ashcraft Claire V. Askelson II Kathleen A. Bagley Rebecca Benna Neelay Bhatt Peggy J. Boccard Julie Boland Marcia R. Bowen Elisa Bradshaw Matthew R. Brubaker Kathleen J. Carson Kelley Christensen Gina M. Mullins Cohen Jessica Culverhouse Martin Dease Richard J. Dolesh Christine Dropinski

Anne Eades Stephen Eckelberry Janivia Fernandez William D. Foelsch Mitchell Fox Pamela J. Gauper William Golson Colette Hall Jennifer Harnish Susan Hergenrader Lauren A. Hoffmann Sarah Horvath Roslyn Johnson Michael J. Kalvort Jack C. Kardys Molly Keesling Michael P. Kelly Brian D. Knapp

Linda J. Kotowski Marian Krass Michelle Lawrence Sven Leff Eileen Lohner Thomas P. McCarthy Amy K. McGrade Lauren J. Murphy James Nantell James O’Connor George W. Page Iris M. Pahlberg Mary A. Penton Marla Pineiro Wanda I. Ramos Terrie L. Randolph Dirk A. Richwine Anna L. Slocum

Miranda Smith Sonya B. Snyder Karen M. Stephens Molly Stevens Chris Stice Roxanne Sutton Charles J. Szoke Susan Trautman Cassandra Holtz Tucker Cynthia L. Vierra David Webb Mark Westermeier Michele B. White Rebecca L. Wickline Morgan Wynn Mark A. Young

A special thanks to the city of North Las Vegas for the countless hours supporting the transformation of Joe Kneip Park.

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NRPA Update Summer Feeding Programs and the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill

By Allison Colman

E

ach day, park and recreation agencies work to fight childhood hunger.

Earlier this year with support from the Walmart Foundation, NRPA awarded funding to 80 park and recreation agencies to help provide summer meals, creating significant impacts across the country.

When the bell rings signaling the start of summer vacation, most kids are jumping for joy. Summer is the time for fun and for summer camps featuring full days of games, field trips, swimming pools, dodgeball,

festivals, music, hiking, enrichment classes, sports and more. While these activities alone are enough for most kids to have an awesome summer, not everyone shares the same excitement.

Suzanne Carr Rossi/The Free Lance-Star

Virgina’s First Lady, Dorothy McAuliffe, visits with children in the City of Fredericksburg as they receive meals during the summer from the city’s mobile food truck.

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School’s Out, Now What?

During the school year, more than 21 million children rely on access to free and reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches each day. In the summer months, only 3.2 million of these children actually receive meals.

This is a huge gap that park and recreation agencies are helping to fill.

As the largest public provider of outof-school-time meals, park and recreation agencies are feeding hungry children in low-income and underserved communities. This summer, thousands of park and recreation sites opened up their doors for camp programming and to operate the USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). From the large urban agencies in cities like Dallas, Texas and Chicago, Illinois, to smaller, rural sites in Fredericksburg, Virginia and Tuskegee, Alabama — agencies helped to ensure that children all over the country were fed a healthy and nutritious meal.

In Dallas, the city faces a number of challenges. Pockets within diverse areas are poverty-stricken — with fastfood restaurants present on almost every street and a large number of food deserts, limiting healthy and affordable food options for low-income families.

The City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department helps to address one of these challenges by serving more than 650,000 meals each year during

Meaningful Impacts While the larger urban agencies boast greater numbers of meals served, hundreds of smaller park and recreation agencies are also creating meaningful impacts. With 18.6 percent of its population falling below the poverty level, the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, works with the school system to provide meals across this community. The city operates a mobile food truck that travels to four locations throughout its 10.5 square miles. This service provides free

Suzanne Carr Rossi/The Free Lance-Star

summer and in before/after-school programming. In addition to providing meals for all children enrolled in its summer camp programs, the City of Dallas allows any child under the age of 18 to come in for a healthy meal.

While this puts more pressure on the agency to maintain accurate number counts, the city feels strongly that the health and well-being of children in its community is a top priority.

The Chicago Park District, in another large urban setting, also took steps this year to expand its Summer Food Service Program. It has a great relationship with its food vendor that allows it to have a part in menu planning. Not only can park and recreation staff members help select the food that is served to the children, but they can also gather and provide feedback from the children on the meals that are served. In accordance with their recent pledge to implement the Healthy Eating Physical Activity (HEPA) standards, they are able to request that non-fat and low-fat dairy products, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthier protein options are served. The high-quality food helps to ensure that children are receiving nutrient-rich foods and keeps them coming back for more.

Children in the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, line up to receive summer meals from the city’s mobile food truck.

meals for any child that approaches the food truck, and any adult (age 18 and older) can purchase a meal for $3. With a population of 30,000 residents, the city estimates that almost 300 children per day are fed healthy meals through this service.

The City of Tuskegee, Alabama, is working with its school system to provide meals during the summer months. Census data from 2013 shows that out of Tuskegee’s 9,000 residents, 30 percent are living below the poverty line with a median income of $26,848. In this community, families constantly struggle to know where the next meal is coming from while figuring out how to pay bills each month and provide health insurance. Working with the Macon County Board of Education, the Tuskegee Park and Recreation Department is helping to alleviate one of those concerns for families in the

summertime.

Summer should be a time for fun, and all children, no matter where they come from or where they live, should have access to their neighborhood swimming pool and a game of dodgeball without having to worry about where their next meal is coming from. Park and recreation agencies implementing the Summer Food Service Program help to ensure that this is a reality for millions of children across the country.

As reauthorization for this and other critical federal nutrition programs is up for renewal this year, it is important that Congress continue to fund these programs that benefit millions of children. Check out NRPA’s Open Space blog (www.nrpa.org/blog) for the latest update on the Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill.

Allison Colman is NRPA’s Program Manager (acoleman@nrpa.org).

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NRPA Update

Show Us the Money

By Kevin Roth, Ph.D.

Y

ou already know about the tremendous contributions that park and recreation systems make to their communities. The services and programming offered by local and regional park and recreation agencies greatly enhance our neighbors’ quality of life. It is well documented that parks play an active role in leading to healthier, more engaging communities through their leadership in conservation, health and wellness and social equity.

Beyond these important contributions, did you know that local and regional park and recreation systems are sources of significant economic activity? This impact has not been measured on a national basis. That is, up to now.

For much of this year, NRPA has been working with the Center for Regional Analysis (CRA) at George Mason University to assess the economic impact of local and regional park agency spending. We were not only interested in measuring agencies’ direct spending, but also sought an estimate of the economic impacts that are indirect — that is, spending of vendors to support their park agency clients — and induced; for example, park agency and vendor employees spending their incomes.

To develop the estimate of economic activity, CRA Director Terry Clower and his team combined park and recreation agency expenditure and employment data from PRORAGIS with U.S. Census Bureau statistics to run an “input-output” economic model.

Clower delivered his preliminary study findings during the 2015 NRPA Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

So, What Did We Learn?

United States local and regional public park agencies’ operation and capital spending generated $139.6 billion in economic activity and supported almost 1 million jobs in 2013.

Let’s take a quick look at the details:

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Local and regional public park agencies had more than 356,000 jobs on their payrolls and operations spending greater than $32.3 billion in 2013.

After considering the direct, indirect and induced impacts, these park systems’ operations spending generated almost $80 billion in total economic activity, boosted gross domestic product (GDP) by $38.8 billion and supported almost 660,000 jobs. These jobs were responsible for more than $24 billion in annual salaries, wages and benefits.

In addition, local and regional park systems spent an estimated $22.4 billion on capital programs in 2013. This capital spending added another $59.7 billion in economic activity, $29.2 billion to GDP, $19.6 billion in labor income and more than 340,000 jobs.

As large as the estimated economic impact of agencies’ spending is, we know these figures actually undercount the full economic impact of park and recreation systems. First, the capital spending estimates do not include expenditures appearing in annual budgets for depreciable assets. As a result, these estimates likely understate the total amount of capital spending (and their resulting economic significance).

Second, these figures do not reflect visitor spending impacts since the vast majority of local and regional park visitors are from within the United States. Finally, the research does not capture the economic value of other benefits that

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local and regional park systems generate in terms of the environment, health and wellness and property values.

But even with the conservative study methodology, you can see that parks are an economic engine for their communities. Being a significant contributor to economic activity and employment adds to the already impressive list of benefits park and recreation systems bring to their towns, cities, counties and regions. In the coming months, we will talk about how to call greater attention to your agency’s economic significance to policymakers, legislators and the media in your community.

But first, keep an eye out for the release of the full economic study report later this fall. The NRPA/CRA report will include a set of case studies that look closely at the impact of the spending at different types of park facilities including regional parks, recreation centers, sport fields, community parks, cultural and historic facilities, aquatic centers, hiking and biking trails and golf courses. The full report will also provide more detail of the study’s methodology.

We will continue the conversation then.

Kevin Roth is NRPA’s Vice President of Research (kroth@nrpa.org).

What Is Your Agency’s ADA IQ?

T

he comprehensive Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been mastered by many parks and recreation agencies. Accessible facilities, truly inclusive playgrounds, staff to support kids with autism in summer programs and other initiatives are happening regularly across the country.

That said, in some communities, ADA compliance remains a challenge. To help, here is a brief tonguein-cheek quiz to measure your ADA IQ, with some suggestions as to which answer is the right answer. By the way, you guessed it — these are real-life examples.

We recently had an open house for a renovated pool, where we expanded lockers and added a sand volleyball and concession area. A reporter for the local paper who covered the open house uses a wheelchair. We: A. Gave her the complete tour and got a great article out of the event.

B. Met her in the parking lot and reviewed pool plans with her, because the ramp slope leading to the pool deck was designed too steeply.

C. Met her in the parking lot and slowwalked to the pool deck, texting ahead to make sure pool staff had the lift out and independently operable SUGGESTION: If you answered anything but A, you get no credit. Top-notch project management would make certain the ramp slope was compliant, and an Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) knows to have the pool lift out and independently operable.

When the parent of a boy on the autism spectrum asked us to provide one-to-one staff during summer camp so he could register with his neighbors who don’t have disabilities, we said:

A. “The ADA does not require oneto-one staff.”

B. “Welcome to camp! Let’s schedule an assessment so we can determine how best to support your son in summer camp.”

C. “Your son must fit into a one-tofour staff ratio.”

SUGGESTION: The correct answer here is B. You already know you can’t refer kids with disabilities elsewhere. In fact Title II explicitly uses the words “staff for program beneficiaries.” And despite what many believe, having a fixed maximum ratio, like one-to-four, won’t work either. It all hinges on the assessment.

How did you do? These questions are just some of the thousands from the bank of real tests that parks and recreation agencies have passed — or failed — with regard to accessibility and inclusion.

NRPA is happy to make a firm like Recreation Accessibility Consultants LLC (RAC) available at a discount to our Premier Members. With RAC President John McGovern’s understanding of Title II, familiarity with the design standards and long career in parks and recreation, his unique experience and perspective can help you pass the next ADA IQ test with which you are challenged. For more information visit www.nrpa.org/RAC or reach McGovern at 224.293.6451 or email john.mcgovern@rac-llc.com.

Test Your Park and Recreation Knowledge The following question is a sample Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) examination question.

The park and recreation professional can afford to develop only one marketing campaign to increase golf play. Which of the following groups should be targeted?: A. Working women who indicate interest in beginning to play golf B. Golfers who play once per month C. Retired men who have never played golf D. Golfers who play twice per weekend Calling all beginning to mid-level professionals! The Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) is the national standard for all park and recreation professionals who want to be at the forefront of their profession.

For more information on the CPRP certification program, please visit www.nrpa.org/cprp.

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NRPA Update

Member Spotlight: Bernard Buchanan

B

ernard Buchanan’s life is one of service and selflessness. The Detroit native began in service to his family, attending Cooley High School and Highland Park Community College to advance his education. Then came service to his country when Buchanan joined the Army and saw deployment to Germany, Korea, Texas and Washington State before retiring from the force. But, it wasn’t until during his phase of service in the labor market, following retirement, that Buchanan would realize his deepest calling.

“When my service was over in the military, I came back to Washington and worked construction and even worked on a fishing boat in Alaska,” he says. “In between trips on the fishing boat, I worked for the City of Seattle Parks and Recreation Citywide Youth Program. While working in the parks youth program unit, I felt like, this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”

And, since 1997, Buchanan has been happily serving his community as recreation leader with Seattle Parks and Recreation, not to mention becoming a state-registered foster parent to 17 children, getting engaged to his fiancée, and caring for his five other children. We were honored to learn more about Buchanan’s profound commitment to advancing equity, supporting at-risk youth and how he hopes to serve his community into the future.

that life is full of choices. I am here to help them make the best one for them. I also assist in the development and implementation of sports programs for all ages as well as community special events.

Parks & Recreation magazine: Tell us about your day-to-day duties.

Bernard Buchanan: As a recreation leader at [Seattle Parks and Recreation’s] Miller Community Center, I recruit teens for our indoor/outdoor recreation programs and teach them

P&R: What’s the most enjoyable aspect of your job?

Buchanan: [Knowing] that I am making a positive influence in the lives of the young children and that will have a major impact on the future of the world that we live in.

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P&R: What’s most challenging?

Buchanan: Meeting teenagers who are influenced by negative people and thoughts and getting them to channel those thoughts into something positive.

P&R: Where do you see the field of parks and recreation headed?

Buchanan: The future is very bright. Parks and recreation is continuing to grow [as a field] and becoming better known, recognized and supported within communities for being a safe, welcoming space for learning, growing and just being for all and everyone — particularly families. I personally see Seattle Parks and Recreation headed toward being a place where Seattle and surrounding cities will be embraced by our beautiful, well-kept parks and programs and want to be part of the many activities that we have to offer.

P&R: What’s one professional goal you’d like to achieve in the next year?

Buchanan: To build more relationships with other service providers (i.e., Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, YWCA, and public/private schools, etc.) within the city and get those members to realize that [parks and recreation are] here for everyone and anyone.

—Samantha Bartram, Executive Editor of Parks & Recreation magazine

NRPA is dedicated to providing learning opportunities to advance the development of best practices and resources that make parks and recreation indispensable elements of American communities.

Find out more at www.nrpa.org/education.

CPSI PROGRAM

AFO PROGRAM

2-4 4-6 4-6 10-12 11-13 17-19 18-20 18-20

Farmington, New Mexico Lexington, South Carolina North Salt Lake, Utah North Kansas City, Missouri Carmel, Indiana Everett, Washington Largo, Florida South Portland, Maine

www.nrpa.org/CPSI

ONLINE LEARNING

Did you miss the NRPA Annual Conference? No worries! Check out online courses built from previously recorded sessions. Missed a class or want to revisit a favorite? Now you can. Visit www.nrpa.org/elearning to learn more. www.nrpa.org/elearning

17-18

North Miama, Florida

5-6

NOV

Virginia beach, Virginia Pheonix, Arizona

DEC

NOV

The Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) certification program provides the most comprehensive training on playground safety standards and the credentials to inspect playgrounds for safety compliance.

6-7 17-18

MAR JAN

The Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) certification is a state-of-the-art certification for pool operators and aquatic facility managers.

10-11

Carmel, Indiana SanDiego, California Canton, Michigan

www.nrpa.org/AFO

SCHOOLS AND CONFERENCES NRPA Conferences and Schools are forums where the park and recreation community comes together to exchange ideas and information. Register now for these upcoming events. All NRPA Schools are held at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia, unless otherwise indicated.

November 1-5, 2015

January 17-22, 2015

January 31- February 5, 2015

March 13-18, 2016

www.nrpa.org/education

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Operations Helpful Hints for Creating Great Park Signage

A

good park signage system performs multiple functions: it provides information and directions for people to find their way around the park, encourages learning experiences, helps maintain the image of the park and communicates park rules. Signs can meet specific needs, target certain areas and, at the same time, be kept to a minimum in the park as a whole. They can also provide a sense of place and local pride by incorporating the history of a specific site in the overall design. Here, we review some basic tips for developing signage at your park facilities.

Clarify Your Goals First, decide the goals and purposes for the signage system you want to develop. Determine what you want the signage to do, who it will serve and the kind of information you want to communicate.

This process should begin with a survey of the existing signage conditions in the park. That survey may include reviewing existing standards and guide-

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lines; conducting evaluation studies; interviewing park staff concerning information relevant to the park and region; surveying existing signage in terms of its types, condition and relation to local topography and conditions; and examining incident and accident records to determine what special signage needs may be relevant to develop. Savvy designers can build on what already exists, using sign designs or placements

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that work well and improving on those that don’t. Using existing elements or variations on those elements can also help to build users’ familiarity with signs and their meanings.

It is also important to understand and fully evaluate any issues, problem areas and perceived decision points along a park visitor’s paths into and through a facility. Talk to people about areas they find difficult to locate or navigate. Make observations of different types of visitors (e.g., the elderly, children, families, ability level, etc.) in order to get an idea of the way other people make decisions and how they enter and move through a park. Consider the needs of special groups such as children at stroller height, as well as those who travel through the park by wheelchair, motorized scooter or bicycle. Interview park staff about information-related problems they have noticed, including staff-visitor conflicts (such as activities that visitors like to engage in that may conflict with park maintenance or goals), conflicts between types of visitors, vandalism, recurring problems and questions, sponsored programs and activities, and park staff information needs.

Unique historical aspects of a park and surrounding areas contribute to a sense of place, nurture local pride and stimulate learning about the place.

Such information can help to inform signage goals, determine who your visitor audiences are, and set the tone of the message you want to send.

Once the essential signage elements are identified, it’s important to

develop a comprehensive master plan for the overall informational system to include signs that are informational, directional or help people to orient themselves and, possibly, identify particular park places. The master plan incorporates the guidelines and information you have collected and lays out the types of signage needed, their text and symbols.

Types of Park Signage Different types of signage serve different purposes — park maps, information or bulletin boards, educational signs and directional signs are the most common examples. The placement of such signage is also an important consideration — adding signage in conjunction with other park amenities, like benches, cafés, restrooms and places where paths cross, can create mini-destinations or meeting places in the park.

Park Maps: Maps at park entrances, within the boundaries of the park and along set distances of pathways can help to increase and enhance park users’ knowledge, curiosity and interest about the park. Maps not only help visitors guide and direct themselves through the park, but highlight places of interest to visit as well. Useful park maps include the entire park, marked with boundaries and approximate street connections, trails, concessions and place of posting located clearly (“You are here”). An enlarged map section of the particular area of posting with areas of interest is also useful.

Information/Bulletin Boards: Often, park visitors are familiar with one or more sections of a park that they frequent but are not familiar with the breadth of a park and its

facilities. In addition, visitors are often uninformed about tournaments, park events and activities, and renovation or management plans. Enclosed information/bulletin boards can serve as an outreach tool to better inform visitors about the park.

g n i k See ? e g a Sign

Educational/Interpretive Signs: Educational signs, such as those that highlight specific trees, paths, flowers or other elements of the natural environment, can also be conceived as a fun way to engage people with the natural environment.

Directional Signs: Directional signs posted intermittently, especially in natural areas, help people keep their bearings and feel secure.

Test, Experiment and Evaluate Once your new signage plan is in place, follow up with evaluations to see if it is effective. Experiment with how the messages are phrased, how the signs are designed and where the signs are located as a way to determine the most effective signage. The success of your sign plan should be judged with the goals and purposes that you developed in mind, as well as the general program guidelines and goals of your agency. With a well-developed, thoughtful signage plan, park visitors of all ages and ability levels are more likely to enjoy navigating the many paths, playgrounds, fields and forests waiting to be explored.

This article is lightly edited and reprinted with permission from the Project for Public Spaces (PPS), a nonprofit planning, design and educational organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public spaces that build stronger communities (www.pps.org).

The right vendor can be a big help as you explore signage options — below, find contact details for a handful of proven manufacturers with deep experience in the field of parks and recreation. iZone Imaging 2526 Charter Oak Dr., Ste. 100 Temple, TX 76502 888.464.9663 www.izoneimaging.com Berntsen International P.O. Box 8670 Madison, WI 53708 877.686.8565 www.berntsen.com Vacker Inc. 948 Sherren St. West Roseville, MN 55113 651.487.3100 www.vackersign.com Pannier Graphics 345 Oak Road Gibsonia, PA 15044 800.544.8428 www.panniergraphics.com Safety Play Inc. 10460 Roosevelt Blvd. #295 St. Petersburg, FL 33716 888.878.0244 www.safetyplay.net

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Products Push Spreaders

Drinking Fountains

TurfEx offers four models of broadcast push spreaders to easily meet jobsite demands at any park or recreation agency. Featuring heavyduty polyethylene construction and accurate material feed systems, the units are designed to help turf-care professionals boost productivity and reduce waste. All products in the line boast precise distribution of granular materials, including fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide and seed, with a maximum spread width of 12 feet. They include a manual on/off lever and positive-locking gate that reopens to the calibrated setting for each use. Other standard features include a 10-inch molded plastic spinner, large pneumatic tires, a top screen and a clear poly cover. The spreaders are backed by an industry-leading two-year warranty.

TURFEX, 866.588.7339, WWW.TURFEXPRODUCTS.COM

Murdock’s GY Series bi-level pedestal drinking fountain and bottle filler incorporates an eco-friendly laminar flow bottle filler, complete with push-button or hands-free sensor operation. Bi-level bowls contain anti-rotation, non-squirt bubblers. The ADA-compliant, heavy-grade stainless steel design is resistant to outdoor elements, corrosion and wear. Each unit can be finished with custom colors and designs and multiple add-on accessories are available. MURDOCK MANUFACTURING, 800.453.7465, WWW. MURDOCKMFG.COM

Semi-Trash Pumps

Riding Mowers

Suitable for handling water with small solids and light debris, Subaru semi-trash pumps offer a heavy-duty overhead cam gasoline engine, a large volute discharge opening and dependable performance. Subaru’s line of semi-trash pumps consists of two models: the PKX201ST and the PKX301ST. The 2-inch PKX201ST is powered by the Subaru EX13, a 4.5-horsepower engine, and provides a delivery volume of 153 gallons per minute. A hardened cast-iron volute effectively withstands suspended particles and small solids sucked through the strainer, while an abrasion-resistant, cast-iron, three-blade impeller and a replaceable wear plate ensure long life and low maintenance. SUBARU, 701.373.0062, WWW.SUBARUPOWER.COM

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The all-new Toro® Groundsmaster® 360 maximizes productivity by combining the agility of a zero-turn riding mower with the flexibility of an out-front rotary mower. Using Quad Steer™ allwheel steering, with the added control of a steering wheel, the Groundsmaster 360 has improved hillside traction and stability to go places inaccessible to most other large-area riding mowers.

Quad-Steer™ technology also minimizes turf damage because of its unique steering geometry. Designed with large-area mowing in mind, the Groundsmaster 360 with its new 100-inch cutting deck provides a versatile solution for both wide-area mowing and trimming in one machine. THE TORO COMPANY, 888.384.9939, WWW.TORO.COM

KNOWLEDGE

YOU CAN IMMEDIATELY

USE TO

IMPROVE YOUR AGENCY

November 1-5, 2015 Oglebay Resort and Conference Center Wheeling, West Virginia

Regi st er Now, at w w w. n rp a. org /S M S

marketplace

Aim high with Greenville ! www.berliner-playequipment.com

Berliner Seilfabrik Play Equipment Corporation 48 Brookfield Oaks Drive, Suite D, Greenville SC 29607, Toll free: +1.877.837.3676

AND

PARKS TRAILS MARKING PRODUCTS • TRAIL SIGNS & POSTS • PLAQUES & MONUMENTS • TRAIL & PATH MARKERS

THE KUTTING EDGE EDGER the new edger for the John Deere Gator

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ORDER BY PHONE 877.686.8565

FIND US ONLINE www.berntsen.com

MARKING THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE WORLD™ | WWW.BERNTSEN.COM

68 Parks & Recreation

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With this innovative approach to edging, using your Gator as the power source. This attachment is capable of doing large area edging on concrete. All that is required is a Gator, one operator, and our edger. The easy-on/easyoff design of the attachment allows you to use the edger without dedicating a Gator.

With the ability to do curbs,

sidewalks, cart paths, street medians, and walking trails, this could become one of the most useful tools that you employ. No whirling blades, no thrown objects that could injure the operator or bystander, makes this tool a safe alternative. Clean up is easy with a rear mounted blower as you go.

To see the Edger at work go to:www.turf-aire.com, videos, Gator TX. If you want dealer installation, call us at 615-233-5173 and we will find your local John Deere dealer.

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W W W. N R PA . O R G | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5 |

12/15/2014 1:51:29 PM

Parks & Recreation

69

marketplace

Order: 1-877-609-2243

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70 Parks & Recreation

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3610 Thunderbird Ln. Crystal Lake, IL 60012 USA Phone (815) 455-9080 info@stopngo

www.stopngo.com

Request free information from the manufacturers of the products found in this issue.

I prefer to receive the information via

Mail

Phone

Email______________________________________________

Name________________________________________________________________ Phone__________________________ Address______________________________________________________________________________________________ City_________________________________________________State________________ZIP_________________________ Is your agency developing methods to measure its economic impact on the surrounding municipality? If so, what do they entail?

reader service

YES! I would like free product information!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please email your answers to dstorm@nrpa.org.

Check the product(s)/company(ies) that you would like information from: AQUATICS

AquaMaster® Fountains and Aerators..11 800.693.3144 www.aquamasterfountains.com ATHLETIC/EXERCISE EQUIPMENT

ICE RINKS

Nice Rink.................................................15 888.642.3746 www.nicerink.com MAINTENANCE PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Go Ape.....................................................69 415.553.0769 www.goape.com

Stop & Go................................................70 815.455.9080 www.stopngo.com

Greenfields Outdoor Fitness...................3 888.315.9037 www.greenfieldsfitness.com

Tree Stabilizer...........................................7 800.691.1148 www.treestabilizer.com

Jr. NBA.....................................................C2 www.jrnba.com TriActive America...................................31 800.587.4228 www.triactiveamerica.com BUILDINGS/TENTS/SHELTERS

PARK PRODUCTS/SERVICES American Swing.....................................70 800.433.2573 www.americanswing.com Dogipot...................................................29 800.364.7681 www.dogipot.com

Easi-Set Buildings..................................69 866.252.8210 www.easisetbuildings.com

Livin The Dog Life™................................69 800.931.1562 www.livinthedoglife.com

Shade Systems Inc....................................1 800.609.6066 www.shadesystemsinc.com/sails

Lockers.com............................................25 800.562.5377 www.lockers.com

COMMUNICATIONS Basinger Audio.......................................68 877.638.5816 www.portablesound.com GROUNDS MAINTENANCE

Most Dependable Fountains...................9 800.552.6331 www.mostdependable.com Pilot Rock................................................21 800.762.5002 www.pilotrock.com

Bishop Enterprises Inc...........................68 615.233.5173 www.turf-aire.com

Polly Products........................................70 877.609.2243 www.pollyproducts.com

Superthrive...............................................7 800.441.8482 www.superthrive.com

Stageline Mobile Staging......................35 800.267.8243 www.stageline.com

Sun Charge Systems Inc.........................17 205.274.7002 www.sunchargesystems.com PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT Berliner ...................................................68 877.837.3676 www.berliner-playequipment.com cre8play..................................................17 612.670.8195 www.cre8play.com Gametime...............................................C4 800.235.2440 www.gametime.com Landscape Structures®..........................C3 888.438.6574 www.playlsi.com Themed Concepts..................................35 855.724.3270 www.play4change.org SIGNS/SCOREBOARDS Berntsen .................................................68 877.686.8565 www.berntsen.com Scoremaster............................................70 888.726.7627 www.scoremaster.com SURFACING SofSURFACES............................................5 800.263.2363 www.sofsurfaces.com

Mail the completed form to Dana Storm at NRPA, 22377 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn, VA 20148-4501 or email to dstorm@nrpa.org.

(ISSN 0031-2215) is published monthly by the National Recreation and Park Association, 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148, a service organization supported by membership dues and voluntary contributions. Copyright ©2015 by the National Recreation and Park Association. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the writers and not necessarily those of NRPA. Issued to members at the annual subscription price of $30, included in dues. Subscription: $36 a year in the U.S.; $46 elsewhere. Single copy price: $4.50. Library rate: $48 a year in the U.S.; $58 elsewhere. Periodical postage paid at Ashburn, Virginia, and at additional mailing offices. Editorial and advertising offices at 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148. 703.858.0784. Postmaster, send address changes to Parks & Recreation, 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148.

W W W. N R PA . O R G | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5 |

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Park Bench

A Garden Oasis on Chicago’s South Side Just outside of the Jackson Park Terrace apartments in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood lies a plush, green garden overflowing with fresh produce. This community garden, which was once a parking lot, is flourishing with the help of Experimental Station, a nonprofit working to build cultural infrastructure on the South Side of Chicago, and the residents of the neighborhood.

“As it stands currently in our second year, the Experimental Station has taken over the coordination and planning portion of two-thirds of the garden, while the residents share beds on the remaining third,” says Kim Werst, market manager for 61st Street Farmers Market and coordinator of the garden’s program. “For now, I plan the crop rotation and planting for the year in the winter so we know what seeds to start and when, and what items will be direct seeded or transplanted.”

According to Werst, residents of the low-income neighborhood have taken a keen interest in helping with the urban garden and learning about the crops — almost all of which are consumed by the community. “Darrell Watson, aka Chico, is a resident who not only waters daily but helps with a lot of the garden tasks that myself, volunteers and the youth programs can’t get to each week,” says Werst. “He also coordinates community planting and harvesting throughout the year and helps to ensure the garden is approachable for residents and community members.” Furthermore, a growing number of residents are getting involved in the How-To and Chef Demo Days, where residents are able to sample foods grown at the garden and learn how to plant their own beds.

The community’s youth are also very involved in maintaining the garden and learning about healthy habits through gardening programs at Andrew Carnegie Elementary School. These food education programs give kids a chance to get their hands dirty in the garden and even learn how to cook the food they are growing. “The best part is seeing the youth so excited to ask questions and tell me about every little thing they see, do and learn as they go,” says Werst. “With repeated exposure to foods offered at our market, an understanding of how they grow and experiential learning, we hope the youth will find a newfound love for fresh, locally grown food and will have a deeper connection to our farmers, while learning valuable skills they will use for a lifetime.”

—Catrina Belt, Editorial Intern for Parks & Recreation magazine 72 Parks & Recreation

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Playground color.

At the forefront of design.

Color—it’s one of the first things you see when you look at a playstructure. So it shouldn’t be an afterthought when designing one.

All of our colors take a cue from nature, because that’s where your playground will be. But there’s more to nature than green trees and blue sky. We took inspiration from minerals, birds, spices, fruits and more to create vibrant hues that stimulate the senses and perfectly coordinate with the outdoors.

See what color can do for your playstructure at playlsi.com/color-inspirations 763.972.5200 • 888.438.6574 • playlsi.com Insta

SWING

With Me! Introducing the first playground swing that promotes social and intergenerational play with a patent pending, face-to-face design.

Expression Swing™ See What You’ve Been Missing.™ GAMETIME.COM/EXPRESSION

800.235.2440

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PARKS&RECREATION OCTOBER 2015 ◆ THE SOCIAL EQUITY ISSUE ◆ 2015 NRPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE RECAP